Take all the time you need little one; I'm not going anywhere.

Six months ago, I first wrote about my granddaughter, Olivia. Since then, a lot has changed. We don’t live in the same state, but I’ve seen her twice since I published my first blog. She continued to remain fragmented and tentative throughout the summer. In June, her family came to recharge in Florida and the warm sunshine, and her heart and mind seemed different. She told me that her father enrolled her in gymnastics after school and that it “gave her space” from her brothers. This is when the laughter began.

She does not have a mobile phone. She borrows her dad’s device, and we Facetime as frequently as her schedule allows. We act as if we are with each other in the same room. She shows me her latest spins, jumps, and rhythmic moves. I am a blissful captive audience of one. She can express herself. She is relaxed. She trusts me. When we say our goodbyes, I thank God for the gift of listening without the intent to reply and know that I don’t have all the answers she craves; however, I do have the love she needs.

My little butterfly is spreading her wings after completing the 2022 school year. When she’s invited to a birthday party, she makes plans beforehand to make sure that the guest of honor gets something special, and if there’s a sleepover involved, well . . . that’s a big plus.

Her Trichotillomania (hair pulling) has subsided. Whether she realizes it or not, she is the one who has done the hard work. She asserts herself and no longer restrains her emotions. All people, especially children, need to feel heard. Since 2020, they have changed their academic and social routines like champions, trusting that this, too, shall pass, and indeed it has.

No family is perfect, and though I believe everyone is doing their best, I frequently wonder if we could do better. Perhaps just being in each other’s company is a good place to start.

In 2023, I hope you will consider encouraging the brokenhearted and praying for those who suffer in silence. Please never, ever lose sight of the world’s youth, because the guidance they receive from an involved family member, classroom teacher, or trusted family friend can shape their future in such a positive way. When I began to look inward, I found that I had an overwhelming desire to be of service to other individuals.

I began with those living under my own roof and now ask God each morning to direct my thinking and open my heart. When you find yourself with an opportunity to help someone else, I hope you take it. By doing a selfless deed each day, you will soon find that your entire soul will be overflowing with a love that you have never felt before.