The Love Box

A number of years ago, my wife of 35 years lost her battle with cancer. I faced a difficult challenge in trying to explain that loss to two very small grandchildren.

I faced an even greater challenge later on when I decided to remarry and tried to help the grandkids understand this new change in our lives. The kids were confused – how can a new grandma replace the other one, they wondered?

I used the image of a shadow box with all of its little cubbyholes to try and help them understand. I suggested this was like the “love box” inside our heart – and each little cubbyhole was a special place where we tuck away our love for each special person in our life. I explained that each space, once filled, forever belongs to that person and holds not only their love for us, but our love for them. And that space can never be filled by anyone else.

We named our special people – mom, dad, brother and sister, and yes, grandma too. We attached their names to the cubbyholes. Interestingly enough, there remained many cubbyholes with no names. I suggested that these are places for other special people who will come into our lives – a new baby sister, a new brother perhaps. And, yes, a new grandma could nicely fit into her own, special cubbyhole, too.

The gift of new life comes in all sizes – new babies and adults, too. I was reminded of that special gift this past Christmas as our car pulled up to spend Christmas with these grandkids. You can probably guess into whose arms they went running first, beaming and crying out, gramma, gramma!

God has given us an amazing capacity to give and receive love.