Nobody can do for little children what Grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle starcust over the lives of little children. ~Alex Haley
Today was Grandparents’ Day. It’s not something that is recognized that much. I think that’s because most of the time grandmothers and grandfathers are usually included on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Usually, though, I do try to remember it and mention it in our church bulletin. This year it sort of sneaked up on me. I knew it was the second Sunady in September, but I guess that sneaked up on me too since September came in on the first day of the month.
Oh well, one excuse is as good as another. I do love grandparents. I only remember my maternal grandmother and my paternal grandfather. My mom’s dad and my dad’s mom died when I was very small. I only have a couple of vague memories of them. Mom’s mother was a loving grandmother, but not really a come spend the night and play with me all day type of grandmother the way I was with my grandchildren and the way my mother was with my children. The days the grandkids visited were when all else was shoved aside and attention focused on those precious little ones.
Mama Rose liked seeing us and loved playing cards, but I don’t think she would have cheated to let me win. 
I’m just guessing, but I’m thinking some of you grandparents out there might have done that a time or two. Maybe not every time, but sometimes when the grandkids were young. I certainly don’t now that my grandchildren are older. They would probably have to cheat to let me win now! Not that I think that would ever happen.
I did have an aunt, my dad’s sister, who stepped in to be a grandmother for us. She never married and so took my sisters and me to her heart. We spent the night with her once a week. She bought special treats for us. She was ready to play games with us. She talked pig Latin with me. She let me play with her typewriter! She read my first efforts to write a book and praised every word. She told me I was a pretty child and made me believe it might be true. She loved cats and always had some around to pet. She got someone to add a little room to an outside shed and equipped it as a playhouse with tiny dishes and dolls and furniture. It was the neatest.
A few years ago, when I was doing a newsletter giveaway of a Grandmother’s Bible, I asked readers to share stories about their grandmothers. Some of them I shared here, but here’s one I don’t think I shared then. It’s from Connie and made me think of what a blessing a loving grandmother is whether she plays with you all the time or merely lets you hear her stories or share her chores.
Here’s what Connie wrote about her grandmother.
My parents shared a big farmhouse with my father’s parents for a few years and were living there when I was born. My brother and I were the youngest of the grandchildren so we received extra loving! As young as I was, I can still recall sitting on the step between the kitchen and the living room and singing along with Mamaw. I think I probably inherited my love of music from her and I am told that I inherited her nature. Apparently she was a very kind and patient person so I do hope that this is true. She was almost 60 by the time I was born so my memories include aprons with bibs, bonnets whenever she was outdoors and long gray hair that she always twisted into a knot on the back of her head. One of my greatest pleasures was brushing her hair as she sat in her chair and apparently she enjoyed it also because she often fell asleep! Another great pleasure was that she allowed me to cook alongside her. Since she made biscuits every day, I was given an Alka-Seltzer lid to use as my cutter and she baked those bite size biscuits along with hers!
Oh how I loved her and even though she has been gone for 50 years, I still recall those times I was able to be with her. Precious memories, how they linger and as long as God allows me to remember, I will treasure those memories.
Those precious memories are to be treasured and I hope everyone has some of those memories from time with a loving grandparents, relative, or older friend who sprinkled stardust on you when you were a kid.
The picture up top is my aunt and my sisters. It might have been before I was born or I might have just been too little to be part of the picture. But I love all the smiles.
What treasured memories of grandparents do you have?