Dear Grandbaby,
Life is tricky business. We spend a lot of time – the bulk of our time, really – building a safe, successful world for ourselves. We work to get an education and a job and promotions and relationships and a car and a home and a boat and cute kids and a secure savings account. None of that stuff is bad by itself, but it’s bad when it keeps us from seeing the world beyond our world. The world where people hurt and dreams break and children are hungry or lonely. That world is real and it really, really matters.
Because my world has been so wonderful, I have often been less-than-aware of the people that the Bible calls “the least of these.” I worked hard to help our church, feeling certain that our church would then reach out and help them and it would be like I had done it myself. But I’m looking back now and realizing that my eyes were foggy and my ears were stuffy and I couldn’t hear the cries of hurting people very well.
In February, when Grandpa was diagnosed with ALS, I discovered a whole community of people I had never really known about before. I knew the disease existed, but I didn’t want to know very much about it. Now, I know. I know exactly what kind of pain and fear people living with ALS experience. And now, I care and I want to help. We want to help. Your family is a part of this big cause and it’s important that we speak for those who cannot. It’s important that we WALK for those who cannot. So, on September 10, your mom will walk for you and we will all walk for Grandpa and the many others in our community who need us to see and hear and care.
Before you are even born, you will be a part of something bigger than yourself. This makes me all flavors of proud.
The world is big and beautiful, sweet baby, but it is also broken and sad. Always be willing to see the sad, and be willing to be part of the healing and hope.
Love you like crazy,
Grandma Bo