At rest in Grandma's arms

Recently my 16 month old grandson came in town with his parents to visit. (Interesting, I just noticed that I have demoted my son and daughter-in-law to "his parents". Must be what happens when God introduces grandchildren into your life.)

I thought that after having lived over five decades I had at one time or another experienced every kind and level of love imaginable to mankind. I had no idea that there was yet another level of love to experience and feel and that it would come in such a little package as a grandchild.

It is hard being a grandparent of a child that lives far away. Especially when he is this young and every day is a new adventure and holds so many new things to learn. You wonder, what does he remember from having met us so many months ago? Will he know us? Will we need to wait a few days until he warms up to us before he will feel comfortable? Will he just get to know us and then it is time to get back on a plane and go home? Will he forget who we are when he gets back home? Yes, it is hard.

But this wonderful bundle of joy wrapped up in a little boy is so precious that all those questions and fears disappear the minute we see him. Nothing else really matters in that moment. It is enough to just take in each facial expression, each look of wonder when he sees something new.

One afternoon we are at a restaurant and my grandson agrees to let me hold him on my lap. I watched as he looked back at momma to make sure it was okay and to just be assured she was still there. He trusts grandma because he knows his momma trusts her. His whole world is centered on his parents. Where are they? Are they watching how cute I am? He makes sure that he knows where to look just so he can see they are still close by.

After a little while he has turned and is resting his tired head on my chest. I can tell by how his arms go limp that he has fallen asleep in my arms. It is in that moment that I am sure life doesn't get any better than this. It is in that moment that if God were to take me home, I would go knowing I had experienced all that is good in this world. It is in that moment, when it is well with my soul, that I would slow down time if I could to make it last just a little bit longer.

I can still feel that moment in my heart. I have pondered all the emotions tied to the memory since it happened. It is such a beautiful example of how our Heavenly Father wants us to feel in His arms. Content. Perfect abandonment of all we know and all that is around us. Total and unconditional trust.

We get so busy being and doing that we forget to rest in the arms of our Father. We don't take that time or make it a priority. How sad. I wonder what we are missing. I wonder if God's heart aches for those moments.

My grandson woke from his short nap and immediately looked for his mother. Refreshed and renewed, he was ready for what adventures were in store next. He was done being in this restaurant and desired to go outside and explore. We eagerly followed his wishes.

Psalm 131:2
Surely I have composed and quieted my soul; like a weaned child rests against his mother, my soul is like a weaned child within me.

Have you ever considered why the "weaned child" is the word picture we are given in this verse? An unweaned child/baby, while very precious, will go to his mother for nourishment. For a reason of need and provision. To put it simply, the baby has purely selfish motives. The weaned child, rests against his mother with contentment. No demands on her for food. Just seeking comfort and safety. The desire (not the demand) is one for love.

As I remember my grandson resting in my arms I pray that I have those moments with my God. Moments where I just abandon my own motives for going to Him. Moments when I don't go expecting something in return. Moments were I just rest, and know He is God.