The devoted Grandmother
Inspired by a partially true event (artistically embellished)
She loved her children, she loved her grandchildren, and she loved her God.
Not necessarily in that order.
Her children loved their children - and they loved her, they ignored her God.
Her grandchildren loved her, and they loved her children, they didn’t know about her God.
She prayed, that in time they would love her God.
Since the birth of her first and subsequent grandchildren she dreamed of standing with her children together witnessing the wetting of their heads - witnessing the saving of their souls - saving them from that terrible place they needed saving from.
She worried that her prayers weren’t enough - she kept her worries to herself quietly praying that her children would one day stand and witness their children’s baptism as she had witnessed theirs.
It was a family day - her favourite kind of day - a fun outing to a nature reserve - walking through the native bush looking for bugs, birds and berries - jumping in puddles - eating sandwiches and specially packed treats - no tears - no tantrums - just a perfect day.
“Look Grandma” shouted her youngest grandson partially hidden by the mass of grasses and foliage.
She walked towards him to see what he had discovered in the very long grass.
“It’s a frog” he squealed jumping (kind of jumping, kind of hopping).
She didn’t see the frog, only her very small grandson balancing on the edge of a very large pond.
Her heart pounded.
She looked up and saw her son standing on the bridge, his face turned toward the sky, gorgeous with the sunlight crowning his beautiful curls, she looked left and saw her lovely daughter in law distracted, gently cradling her very tiny very perfect granddaughter, she looked right and saw her three older grandchildren looking for something up a tree.
“Careful darling” she called taking several gigantic strides, stretching out to save him from going over the edge.
The nudge was minimal, no one noticed, he landed face down in the filthy water and the devoted grandmother plunged her left leg into the thigh deep pond - she closed her eyes - took a deep breath and whispered a simple prayer whilst grabbing the back of his collar with her right hand and submerging him fully before lifting him and herself back onto the edge, all in one seamless move.
She had one full moment of absolute bliss - she breathed in the air and the sunshine - her heart filled with pure joy.
Then he screamed - his mother screamed - he started crying, his mother started crying, her son sprinted down the bridge.
After the panic, and everyone had calmed down - her son hugged her and thanked her and said how grateful he was that she had been right there - so close to save his son - and she cried and hugged him back and said how grateful she was that she had been there to save her grandson.
She thought her heart would burst with relief as she thanked her God - One down only four to go.
My Name is Esther Newrick - I am a ponderer, writer, textile and wallpaper designer bringing more colour to the world.
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Awesome Story... :) hehehehhhheeeee