My daughter has just become a grandmother. Her daughter Eva Marie (my oldest granddaughter) gave birth to a beautiful baby girl just a few weeks ago. From the time the announcement was made that a baby was on the way, my daughter made it clear she did NOT want to be called Grandma. I guess she didn’t think she was old enough to be a grandmother.

So after much deliberation she decided on Nana. She even bought T-shirts and a mug to make sure it happens. (I have a six year old granddaughter who thinks it’s funny and sings the Batman song when she sees Aunt April wearing the Nana t-shirt.) I don’t mind being called Grandma. It’s who I am! And it’s a name I love to hear. It is quite delightful hearing your grandchild say “Grandma” for the first time. Just don’t call me Granny!

Talk about a moniker that makes you feel old. I picture a granny sitting in a rocking chair, knitting or crocheting, muttering to herself and falling asleep. Or perhaps it’s Granny from the old TV show The Beverly Hillbillies that has me adverse to that title. Now that particular Granny was spunky and feisty, but she looked so old and dressed that way, too. Hair in a bun, long plain dresses and high top work shoes! So I am partial to being called Grandma. Or I was…

My granddaughter Eva Marie was named after two of her great grandmothers, my mother Eva and my husband’s mother Marie. I will never forget the joy my mother expressed when she found out that her great granddaughter was named after her. She literally clapped her hands, grinned and giggled, and declared, “I don’t know how to act! I’ve never had anyone named after me before.” She was adorable. Eva Marie was blessed with a lot of grandmas! Well, two grandmas and a bunch of greats, but all of them were called Grandma. All but one. For some unknown reason, my mother became Granny. A somewhat special name for a very special great grandmother.

And now I have a great granddaughter. Her name is Willow Jane. She is not exactly my namesake, but we do share the same middle name and I like that. I am hoping that she and I will have a close bond and that I will be a special great grandmother to her. Maybe she’ll even call me Granny!

I recently read about another interesting and special granny. This one was an orca whale! Researchers named her Granny when they observed her taking care of a small baby whale whose mother had died. This very old whale took on the responsibility of protecting and teaching the orphaned whale. ‘Granny’ apparently knew the importance of her role in the life of her ‘grandbaby whale’. -Kirsten Holmberg in Our Daily Bread

Grandparents would do well to follow Granny whale’s example. Becoming grandparents isn’t just a sign that we are getting older. It is a joy for the present and a hope for the future. Proverbs 17:6 says it well, “Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged.”

It is also an opportunity and comes with responsibility. We can influence our grandchildren (and our great grandchildren) for good or for evil. We need to speak into their lives whenever and however we can. We can do this by sharing memories, telling our stories, praying for them and with them, and by being a strong support to them when they need it. Sometimes the best thing a grandparent can do is to listen. Most importantly, we need to tell our grandchildren about the God who created them and loves them!

Now that I am old and gray…O God, let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all that come after me. –Psalm 71:18

So…as I think about my mother and the whale, and their example, maybe being called Granny wouldn’t be so bad after all.

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