Aging gracefully

I had a little extra time to spend with my grandma yesterday and I found out a lot about her which made me ponder on the stages and experiences of an aging woman. My grandma is an emblem of strength and faithfulness. In her early years she went through a lot of hardship in order to raise her family (with my grandfather of course). She took care of her children’s needs but at the same time pursued her passions of being a mid wife. Yes, she was stern and stubborn in a lot of her ways but she also left a remarkable trail for her children to follow.

Being one of her grandchildren, I’m blessed to have forged a close bond with her. Writing letters to her whilst she was in Australia, spending time chatting with her before she goes to bed and taking her out for an occasional dim sum meal. I thank the Lord that she’s still alive today having braved through a triple bypass at the age of 70. Not many people would give the green light to the surgeon to rip open her torso at that age. But she did, because she knew that life was not to end there for her.

And now, at the age of 86 many things don’t really matter to her anymore, but to love and be loved. I often wonder how she can bare being at home most of the day with the newspaper and books to keep her company. It must be pretty boring. That’s why every time someone walks into the home; there is a spark of excitement on her face. She takes the effort to make herself present. Every morning before I leave for work she would send me off with a greeting and ‘God bless you’ and when I return she would often pass a simple compliment like “You look lovely today”. And there are times I take it for granted that these statements will always be there.

When I sat down next to her this afternoon to chat with her, she gave me a huge smile. I understood what it was. It was a smile that meant she’s being acknowledged and loved. And that’s what really matters doesn’t it? We spoke about life, about good memories, about my growing up and about my wedding next year. It’s not a light bulb moment and I have come to concede that her memory is fragile at this point in time. I have to keep reminding her of things and one of them is my wedding. She glows at the mention of it. And I want her to know it means so much to me that she’s interested in things that are happening in my life. A grandmother’s heart, only will I know the depth of it when I reach that point myself. Now, I savour every moments the Lord has given to us.