Understanding His Delight

Mary Lou Rosien contemplating her love for her grandchildren, realizes its similarities to God's love for us.

Last summer, I became a grandmother to a little girl and three weeks later, a little boy. I have heard people say that you don’t really understand joy until you are a grandparent, and it seems to be true in my case. All the love I have for my daughters and their husbands rolls together and spills onto these two beautiful babies.

I am blessed that the girls and their families often accompany us to Mass. One Sunday, as my daughter, Darya, removed her daughter, Iyla’s, coat … I felt my impatience growing. My heart and arms longed to hold and cuddle my little granddaughter. I could hardly stand those few moments waiting for her, it felt like an eternity. Everything she does, her cousin likewise, delights me. She makes me laugh and gives me butterflies in my stomach. It was then that it occurred to me: Sacred Scripture tells us that God delights in us.

He delivered me, because he delighted in me. (Psalm 18:19, RSVCE)

Is this what it means? Does God long to have me in heaven, just as I long to hold my grandchildren? When my grandbabies turn to me in loving trust, I feel as if everything is right in the world. Does my Father-God have this response when I turn to Him?

I have often been awed by the fact that God loved us so much that He sent His only Son to be born, die and rise again for us. However, I rarely ponder what kind of love would motivate Him to do that. If I, in my human state, can love and delight so intensely in my grandchildren, how much more can the Divine One love?!

null

I believe this is the understanding that John has when he refers to himself in the Gospel as “the one Jesus loved.” John 20:2 He is not being prideful, he is just secure in the love of God. Perhaps that is why grandchildren often have such a close relationship with their grandparents, because they too are secure in their love. My daughters are amazing moms and they love their children endlessly! I learned many lessons about the love of God the Father when I became a parent. I hope that they too will relish those insights.

In this new stage though, I have been asking myself, why is the grandparent/grandchild bond so much easier than that of the parent/child one. Maybe there is a clue to the unconditional love of God in that relationship. There is definitely an indication as to why parents should utilize grandparents as an ally when raising children (providing it is a healthy situation).

We are allowed to accept our grandchildren just the way they are.

Let’s face it, we consider our children a reflection of ourselves and our parenting skills. When they misbehave (especially in public) we are acutely aware of the judgment of others. By the time we are grandparents, we don’t really care about the opinions of others because we have lived long enough to realize that judgements are almost never based on all the facts.

We have more free time.

Parents are superheroes; they have to raise the kids, go to work, clean the house etc. They are so busy. Grandparents have more freedom to order their days and it’s easier to make time for the little ones. Afterall, who cares if dinner is an hour late when you only have to plan for yourself and perhaps your spouse?

Grandparents aren’t bothered by having to discipline.

I think grandparents are able to detach and see discipline as just another part of love. This is difficult for parents, because it hurts to have to discipline your child. You just want to spend time with them in positive interaction. Age teaches us that love doesn’t always look like happiness. In fact, we grow the most in times of struggle. This wisdom helps us to take discipline in stride and not feel very emotional about it.

Click to tweet:
Does God long to have me in heaven, just as I long to hold my grandchildren? #catholicmom

If your children are blessed enough to have loving grandparents around, please encourage those relationships. They will gain a different type of love and perspective from those interactions and perhaps, the grandparents will have an additional insight into the love of God the Father (as I am finding). God bless.

null