Through the Eyes of a Grandparent
Many grandparents have heard with excitement the words “We’re going to have a baby.”
It’s a time of anticipation and joy for most. As a parent ourselves, it is often associated with our newlywed child and spouse and the two love birds having decided to start a family of their own.
The delight of sharing the news with family and friends is part of the anticipation. Since there are most often nine months to prepare, there are showers, room preparation, and plans for how the grandparents will be involved in the first few days of the birth.
Yes, having a grandchild is a delight – I hear.
In this case, things were a little different.
What was to be anticipated as a joyous occasion turned out an embarrassment and disgrace.
Some months earlier there had been a promise of a marriage between the parents and their future son in law. The daughter barely knew him, but she was bound to remain pure for one year before the vows took place.
She got pregnant before the marriage occurred. Not only was she a disgrace to her family but people were talking about here throughout the village. They all thought the baby was the son of the young man who was to marry her.
She and her fiancé knew that was not the case.
The parents were mortified. They were shunned by many of their friends. How embarrassed they were.
After many long discussions, and because he was certain he wanted to marry her anyway, they were married.
So what if you found yourself in this situation today? How would you handle it?
I hear these grandparents eventually accepted the baby – even though they did not attend the birth because their daughter and her new husband were far away from home when the baby was born.
I also heard they were good and loving grandparents to the little boy as he grew up quickly.
Through their eyes, he was still their grandson and they were proud of him.
Many in the community eventually accepted him.
Others never did.
My wish for you today is that – if and when you become grandparents – you will celebrate that event with love and kindness – regardless of the circumstances. I’ve seen many families who embrace situations they had little control over and surround their grandchildren with the love and care a young child deserves. My wish for you today is – if you know of a young lady when finds herself pregnant and out of wedlock – that you support and encourage her as she prepares to become a mother. With that kind of love and support form parents and friends, just think what a newborn child can become.
~ Joellen