Won't You Say You Love Me, Too

It is early afternoon on a snowy February 1.  I am sitting in the office, trying to catch up on a backlog of work.  Suddenly, from downstairs, I hear Alivia yelling, "Grammy, Grammy!!!," and I yell Back, "What?"  "It's OUR SONG!," she yells.  I leave the desk and hurriedly descend the stairs to hold her and sing the Barney song that has become "Our Song" to Alivia and Luke.  Of course, I make it down for the last stanza only, but that isn't what is important.  What is important is that we don't miss the hugs & kisses that accompany the song.

My days with these precious grandchildren are tiring, challenging, and more rewarding than anything else I could be doing at this moment.  This Barney song is ingrained in our hearts as the call that draws the three of us together from wherever we are to hold each other tightly and renew the bonds of love that we share.

I know that I am giving them both a tremendous gift -- the unconditional love of a grandmother during the hours their own parents are away.  As they grow up and move into the larger world, they may not remember many details of their days with me.  In fact, they may not even remember the "specialness" of this Barney song, but they will be more secure, move loving adults because they were held closely in the loving arms of their grandmother.

And I will always wipe a tear from my eye when I hear the Barney song and they are grown up and no longer yelling, "Grammy, it's Our Song!!".

"I love you, you love me,

We're a happy family --

With a great big hug and a kiss from me to you,

Won't you say you love me, too.

I love you, you love me,

We're best friends like friends should be --

With a great big hug and a kiss from me to you,

Won't you say you love me, too."