I had my first grandson for almost two years before his brother was born. I will tell you about the second brother's story in this book. It is profound. And the third one's story... I have already written about. He... was Paul's redemption. But this story... it's about my first. It's about the one who named me.
This precious boy was my world. My first grandchild...and he was everything. He was a
pensive child. Quiet. Always listening. I read to him a lot and sang to him, and I knew I had his attention.
We had a little kitchen stool. I knew he wanted to climb it, but I also knew he didn't want me to watch him figure it out. So I put it in the living room and walked away. Then I watched him through the open area from my kitchen where he practiced. He went up, stumbled, and tried it again. He did this over and over until he finally had it down. I saw that he had done it. My heart so full knowing that he wanted to show me. I walked toward him. "Did you climb that ladder?" I asked him. And he showed me that he did.
I gave him the biggest hug. He so was proud and so was I. I was pretty sure that he said, "Gamma" in the video I took as I filmed him doing it again.
Not long after that, I was talking to my daughter on the phone. "Jude keeps saying something," she told me. "I don't know what it means. He says it over and over every day." And she repeated the word. "Have you heard him say it?"
"No." I told her, "I have not."
The next time they came over, my darling boy ran into the house. "Mamo!" His arms were wide open as I scooped him up.
"Oh my gosh!" my daughter said, "It's you. He's been asking about you."
My heart swelled. And it didn't take long for me to figure out where this name came from. It was a combination of two of his favorite things. His Mama and Elmo. I knew right away that he saw me as the perfect mix of both.
Part Mama, part Elmo.
One of my sisters made fun of this name and It hurt my feelings. Many grandma's choose their name before their grandbabies are even born. They then coach them on it as soon as their grandbabies talk. I get this. Truly I do, but I, I never even thought about it.
My truth is this... I knew one day that Jude would call me something. He'd find his name for me and say it. And that's exactly what he did. My darling grandson named me from two of the things he loved the most. And what could possibly be more precious than that?
And so...just call me Mamo!
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