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I love my grandmother.
She isn't educated, she doesn't read books, she never made much of a mark on the world. She worked as a cleaner. She has a very simple faith. Arguments about this doctrine or that mean nothing to her. She's really the epitome of the "laity". She knows what she believes, and doesn't trouble about what she doesn't believe.
She is kind, and generous, though she doesn't have much. She would give away so much that she'd be in poverty, if we let her. She loves her grandchildren.
A lot of grandmothers are very close to their grandchildren. Your mother remembers too well when you were born, and feels the responsibility of making sure you grow up to be a good person. But a grandmother is free to spoil kids, give them sweets, tell them stories, teach them what they learned. She doesn't have to worry in case the kids get spoilt - for its only every so often.
Can you imagine if we behaved as grandmothers to our fellow man? If we left chastising to God and just loved? Can you imagine what the world would become?
Lets say you, a Christian, met a witch under this new scheme of things. Now, you don't care she's a witch, you love her regardless. You meet, and you talk and do things together, and you both just appreciate the other.
You meet a Christian you disagree with. Maybe they're in the Hebrew Names movement, maybe they're an ultra-fundamentalist. It doesn't matter, you love them anyway. You've both read the Bible - so you decide to let God decide about the issue. You just enjoy each other.
You "spoil" others; you give them treats, you are kind and generous. Wherever there is someone in need, you are there, with gifts, time or just a listening ear. Everyone knows they can come to you and receive love.
You don't argue, you just believe. You love everyone you meet like a grandmother loves her grandchildren. You'll talk about your views, but only if asked. You never force or start an argument. You take no pleasure in fighting.
You are like a grandmother to the world - full of unconditional love. You build others up - you never tear them down. Because you love, you get love back. Why can't we all be like that?
"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35 RSV)
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© Dubhóc MacEògainn, 2005.