Our Grandma Who Art in Heaven

Two sisters from Mount St. Scholastica, Susan Barber and Bridget Dickason, recently went on a mission trip to San Antonio, Texas, to help care for teenage boys from Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala who are seeking refuge in the United States. One of the memorable stories relayed by Sr. Bridget was when a young teen handed her a note that said, “Grandma, we need shoes!”

Sr. Bridget and I are the same age, and neither one of us feels old enough to be a grandma! Although it’s a shock to realize we are indeed entering the “grandma generation,” it’s also touching that the boy who handed her the note had confidence that she would be able to help him. That’s who grandmas are—people you can turn to with your needs, with trust they’ll do the best they can to help you.

In that sense, it’s kind of a surprise that we don’t have an image of God as a grandma—provider of food, wisdom, comfort, and unfailing love. Perhaps that’s an image we can pray with when we need a supportive confidante—or even something as basic as new shoes when we’ve walked a long way seeking safety and freedom.