On The Cusp

Our daughter came over for the afternoon with three of our grandchildren.
Our other granddaughter went to a baseball game with her daddy.
It was her turn to have that special one on one time.
Her sister, my oldest grandchild, enjoyed being the only girl, though she didn’t admit it.

I watched this now seven-year-old come into the house in her cute skort and t-shirt.
I saw her adorable choker around her neck, which we bought together on our Grandma day.
It makes me feel so grown up, Grandma, she told me in confidence as she fingered the choker.
I remember the little things that made me feel grown up not so long ago.

I saw her long legs underneath her skort; the legs that run so fast and kick a soccer ball so well.
You’re growing up, I thought to myself with joy but with a bit of wistfulness.
She is a second grader now.
She is a voracious reader, as described by an author friend of mine.

I was getting lunch ready and my granddaughter was my sweet shadow.
Can I help you, Grandma? I help Mommy in the kitchen all the time.
Her question and statement came in rapid fire succession.
Of course, I said, as I thought of things for her to do.

We were having grilled cheese for lunch.
Could you put the cheese on the bread for me; two slices for each sandwich, please, I said.
She was so excited to be part of the lunch making.
She carefully placed two slices of cheese on each sandwich.

My panini press was heating up on the counter as we worked on other things.
I like your grilled cheese sandwiches, Grandma because I really like the stripes.
The stripes happen when the panini press is closed on top of the sandwich.
The cast iron has ridges, which make wonderful lines on the bread.

She watched as I turned the sandwiches over so each side cooked evenly.
She put the napkins on the table at each of our places.
I watched her take on jobs that a year ago she would not have been interested in doing.
She is on the cusp of things, I thought as I watched her.

The thesaurus in my brain went into action.
She is, on the verge of, at the brink of, on the threshold of, the next phase of her development.
It is a privilege to watch this happen before my eyes.
She is a little girl blossoming into a young lady.

Grandma, I have a loose tooth, she said as she wiggled her front tooth.
I saw her excitement in her seven-year-old way.
I teased her about being able to sip through a straw without even opening her mouth.
We giggle at the thought.

On the cusp of things.
A little girl with a loose tooth.
A big girl imitating her mama and perhaps her grandma a bit as well.
Child, little girl, young lady…happening before my eyes.

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:11-13)

A little girl who has another loose tooth.
A little girl who wants to learn to do the things she sees her mama (and Grandma) do.
A little girl who can travel to other lands in a book.
A little girl who can’t wait to go outside and swing on the tree swing in the front yard.

Watching and imitating.
Growing yet never forgetting the little girl inside.
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1)
Oh, may it be so.