A Journey of Joy

 

Did Al's song put Grandson Nate to sleep??? (2009) 

A Journey of Joy

            On Sunday, September 7^th, two words in blue print on my desk calendar stood out: “Grandparents Day.” Now if I hadn’t seen it on the calendar, Grandparents Day would have slipped right by unnoticed and forgotten. It was a good reminder, however, to be thankful for our grandchildren and grateful for their parents!

There was a time in my life when the dream of marriage and children seemed to be fading. Single and in my 30’s without a good prospect in view, I had to be open to the idea that perhaps God’s answer to my prayer for a husband was not the same as what I had hoped for. After accepting Christ into my life as a teenager, I truly believed that God loved me and had a good plan for my life. However, it took a long time to be content as a single person.

Much to my surprise once that decision was made, only a short time passed before Al and I met, became engaged, and were married! Being loved by him and loving him in return brought great joy into my life. Mom even thanked him for making her elder daughter so happy!

It was a blessing to be a wife and also stepmother to Al’s ten-year-old daughter, Shanda. Having never been a mom, learning my new role as a stepmom was challenging at times, yet fulfilling. While children never materialized in our lives, I loved Shanda and enjoyed watching her grow into a lovely woman. Over the years she and I developed a strong relationship, one which I treasured.

 When Shanda was living in a suburb of Detroit, playing viola with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, she met a charming man, Chris. Upon marrying Chris, she became a stepmother herself to his two young children…and much to our delight, Al and I became grandparents! There was no such term as “stepgrandparents” in my dictionary!

Even though Al and I were living in California at the time, we were able to see the family several times a year and developed strong bonds that continue to this day, a source of joy and blessing for sure! How could my heart contain any more love? I wondered. But when two more children were added to the family, first with the birth of Nate and then Elliot, my heart just seemed to expand!

I remember when Al held Nate in his arms for the first time during one of our visits to Michigan. At first Nate’s eyes were fixed on Shanda, who was standing nearby.

 “Nate,” Al said seriously, “God loves you and will always love you. Got that?”

Then, Al began to sing a little scripture song, just as he had done with Shanda years before: “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and shall not faint. Teach me Lord, teach me Lord to wait.” (from Isaiah 40:31 KJV)

As soon as Al started singing, Nate turned his gaze from Shanda to Al and stared upward at his face with big trusting eyes. What joy in hearing those words, and in knowing that Nate would be encouraged in his faith as he grew up by his parents and all six of his grandparents! (Three sets!) It was a beautiful moment, the beginning of a relationship between grandfather and grandson…and the witnessing of a legacy of faith being passed from one generation to another.

Many changes have happened in the sixteen plus years since Nate was an infant. Our move in 2017 to take up permanent residence in Michigan at Shanda’s urging was one of them. It turned out to be a good decision, as we have been able to support the family, especially since Shanda’s passing away in 2023.

 In the journey through being single, then becoming a wife and grandma too, I have found great joy and fulfillment. However, looking back to my life’s journey from being a teen to this present day, the source of that joy has come from having a personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. It far surpasses that found in any other relationship and will continue forever! Now that is cause for rejoicing!

“You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” Psalm 16:11 NIV