A stepdaughter is a wonderful gift from God. Not always easy, but delightfully rewarding in so many ways.
I met Hannah when she 8. Big chocolate eyes and long brown hair with an uneasy willingness to let me into her life. Memories of her cross my mind like I’m looking through a scrapbook of photographs. A little girl flying high on a swing in a park. A doe eyed daughter clinging to her Daddy. A young teenager spending her money at the mall the minute it was given to her.
Once we took Hannah to a gymnastics lesson. Her dad and I sat on the bleachers and watched her run and tumble. She was 10 or 11 and gangly and enthusiastic.
I remember watching her learn to cartwheel. John and I, ready to clap and cheer her on, watched in dismay as she fell flat. It was as if we were watching an Olympic ice skater do her routine only to fall down during a triple.
“Go Hannah…go…go…OUCH!”
She was fine. Undeterred she went again and again. Her spirit was willing but her body…well, not so graceful.
Two weeks ago, John and I travelled to California to meet Hannah’s first child, a sweet little princess named Natalie. Hannah still has chocolate eyes and long brown hair. Her uneasy willingness to allow me into her life has disappeared. She placed little Natalie in my arms and said, “Meet Grandma.”
I watched Hannah being a new Mom during our short visit and it made me so proud. It was if I was watching an Olympic Mother, new to the sport but enthusiastic and confident. No stumbling falls.
Just grace. My sweet stepdaughter, the graceful Hannah.
4 comments:
Congrats on your precious new granddaugter -- and on the precious relationship you now have with Hannah. What wonderful blessings!
Thank you Cheryl! I am blessed! :0)
This is my first time reading your blog...so I hesitate to make this suggestion...and before I do, I want you to know that it is my heart-felt prayer that you accept my comment with the loving spirit that it is extended to you...I am a father who was grafted in 18 years ago to a wonderful loving family, so I understand what you went through, but may I humbly suggest you begin to leave off the "step" portion when referring to your daughter...notice she did not refer to you as step-Grandma...just a thought...it has brought our family closer together...again I hope you understand I mean only the best for you and your family...best wishes...they are both beautiful.
Be encouraged!
Dear LifeRevelation, Thank you for your comment and I completely accept it. Wasn't offensive at all, so thank you! Blessings to your family! :0)
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