Crazy little thing called love

By Kirsty Meese (Kinder Teacher)

I live 16,938 km from my childhood family home.  On a regular day, the distance home does not register too much.  However, last week my Gran, or Grandilumps as I liked to call her - although I'm not so sure that she was keen on it, passed away.  And just like that, the distance between here and home feels like the vast distance it really is.

Loosing Grandilumps, has been a sad and lonely time, because let’s be honest, who really gets family apart from family?

At some point through the turbulent waves of sadness, unexpected shoots of love have sprung up like beacons of light, changing what is still a sad time into something different…

I suddenly see a love story that stands the test of time, as Grandilumps is reunited with her one and only love, my Grandfather, who died before I was born.

My ever busy brain is suddenly bursting with memories of love and joy from my childhood; nipping to my Gran’s at lunch time and watching kids T.V. whilst I eat my lunch box, birthday celebrations, family get togethers at Christmas and embarrassing family moments.

But the brightest light of all is my usually quiet phone which is now re-forming and strengthening connections with brothers, aunties and cousins who had lost contact with me as the distance between Australia and home became too great, or too hard. And all of a sudden there is so much love, past grievances are forgotten, and whose turn it was to ring who aren’t counted any more as we remember that:

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. I t does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." ~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-8