Little Blond Blessing

Grandchildren are the dots that connect the lines
from generation to generation.
~Lois Wyse

Every one of my eleven grandchildren is very special to me! The other day, ten-year-old Hunter was here, and I told him I had to hurry and write some stories for Chicken Soup for the Soul books about counting my blessings. He said, “Grandma, why don’t you write about your grandson?” I knew by his big grin that he was referring to himself, and I just couldn’t keep from hugging him!

Actually, this blond little boy and I have a very special bond. I was his caregiver just after he was born and his mother’s maternity leave ended. When my stepdaughter Sharon went back to work, baby Hunter stayed with me every day, starting in June of 1999.

In July of 1999, we got the terrible news that our twenty-eight-year-old son was killed in an auto accident. My world was turned upside down as funeral arrangements unfolded and I could only see sorrow ahead of me. I had to make the decision whether or not to continue giving Hunter childcare, when I was still deep in the throes of grieving.

Just holding this little blond baby in my arms brought me so much comfort and love that I decided I’d continue keeping him while his parents worked. I think it was the best therapy for me that I could have discovered at the time. I remember rocking him and smelling his sweet baby head in my arms, and thinking of a long-ago little blond boy who brought the same happiness to my life! He reminded me so much of my own son!

There were days I could not stop the tears, but holding Hunter and crying onto his soft head just seemed to help me. I could feel his unconditional love when he smiled up at me, and often I observed him looking off into the air smiling, gurgling and seemingly talking to angels! I felt as if he had a new guardian angel looking after him that he’d never met … his Uncle Donnie whom he resembled so much as a baby! Donnie lived in North Carolina and had not yet made the trip to Tennessee to meet his new nephew before his time came to leave us.

This little blond blessing came into my life just when God knew I’d need it most—two months before the loss of my own son. They say things happen for a reason, and in this case, I do believe it’s true!

Okay, Hunter … your Grandma DID write that story about you!

~Beverly F. Walker