The Kindness of a Loving Grandmother

"I know what it is like to be brought up with unconditional love.  In my life that came from my grandmother."
―André Leon Talley

The other day at a Mass for my children's school, I saw the grandmother of one of the students.  A beautiful woman with a calming presence, this grandmother is a familiar face at school activities.  She is always there for her granddaughter.  Whenever I see this woman, I always think how blessed her granddaughter is.  In fact, she reminds me of my own grandmother, whom all of my friends knew and loved.  There is something reassuring about grandmothers.  They make the world a gentler, safer place.

When I walked out of the church, it was raining.  I stood next to the doors, hoping that the rain would stop, so that I could go to my car.  Holding an open umbrella, this grandmother offered to walk me to my car -- even though her car was in the opposite direction.  I declined at first, but she insisted.  I was glad to have accepted her kind offer.  As I walked close to her under the umbrella, I was transported back in time to moments with my own grandmother and I remembered so well the feelings of unconditional love, warmth and security.  We ended up having a lovely chat about grandmothers and granddaughters, and the things that matter most in life.  It was nice to once again enjoy the kindness of a grandmother -- even if she was someone else's.