Multi-purpose Granny app

Grandchildren

Clearly being a Granny is only a small part of who anyone might be,  In fact, Granniedom is only real when you are thinking of, being with, preparing for or considering the welfare of those who come into your own particular Granniedom.  So, this has been an interesting summer for us to watch the size of the Granniedom.

What is it is that sets a grandparent in motion.  What I have noticed, especially as some of the grandchildren live abroad and the others are far away is that when they are expected, Grandpa gets the croquet out, the tractor comes out of the shed, he goes down to his cellar and brings up special drinks for the parents of the grandchildren and he and I set about making family favourite foods: prawn cocktail, fish pie and steak and kidney pudding (not my bag!).  They come, they go, it all rushes by with friends and festivities and we change gear.

Dogs

Grandchildren's shoes

But of course, it doesn't end there, there is the Skype connector, the WhatsApp Group, the plans to visit again all set against a backdrop of something else.  I am going to tell you what it is just in case you far away grandchild are out there listening.  It is set against a background of love, not sloppy sentimental love, but deep profound and continuous love.  Apart from anything else about it, it isn't our love, we just get to participate in it as grandparents but also as dog owners, gardeners, Olympic gymnasts, Aid workers, brides and grooms, mothers and fathers, lovers, young and old, we all just get a dollop of love from a great big bowl of love.  This love isn't pink or blue or coloured in anyway, it simply is what exists.

When you get a chance to be quiet and still and you tune in to that love especially if you need it or you have someone in your life who you are concerned about, you know it is real.  When you turn away from it, it doesn't ever turn away from you.  Apart from anything else, it can't.  It is all there is.  So, when I don't see you dear children and grandchildren, I can leave my particular individual Granny and Grandpadom and all its pairing of socks and preparing of meals and meet it in meditation.  It is a discipline to do this twice a day every day and of course sometimes the socks take precedence. During this summer when there have been an unusual number of dramatic moments and people (and the Butty dog) to really care for, meditating has been for real and the reality of unmoving love surrounding all of us is really and truly there.

One who knows