My 2 year old grandson, that is. :) He was over for a visit on Sunday. I hadn’t seen him in a couple of weeks and was really missing him. When my daughter’s car pulled up in front of the house, I saw her turn toward the backseat and say something. Instantly, I saw little arms pop up, waving madly. As I walked to the car, and got a clearer view of my little guy, I started waving back at him. Oh, the smile on his face! I wonder if mine beamed as big as his did? My heart was just flowing with joy at the sight of him! My daughter got him out of the backseat and his little feet had barely touched the ground when he took off running… straight into my arms.

It’s hard to put into words the love that I feel for this little boy. Especially when he’s in my arms, hugging me as tight as he possibly can. It brings tears to my eyes every single time. I hugged him back just as tight, and told him how much I’d missed him. I set him down, and he just stood there looking up at me, beaming. His eyes light up when he smiles. I mean, really light up. My eyes teared up and I wanted to cry.

It only took him a moment to remember who else he wanted to hug. The one he just knew was waiting inside the house. My boyfriend. Up the stairs he ran, to the front door. I told my daughter that there were other people inside the house, visiting. My grandson didn’t know this, of course. He walked into the house, my daughter and I right behind him. Luckily, we weren’t too close behind him, because he came to a dead stop the second he saw “the strangers.” No one said a word. My grandson stood there, looking at the strangers, then looking at my boyfriend, who was sitting all the way across the room. Back and forth, his head moved, like he was debating on whether or not he could make it across the room without being caught by the strangers. Everyone watched him. It only took him a few seconds to decide, though. How a child can be standing still, and take off so damn quickly, I’ll never know. ha ha ha But that’s what he did – literally bolted across the room at top speed. Straight into my boyfriend’s arms. I actually heard the impact of my grandson landing into my boyfriend’s arms. My grandson was hugged tightly amid lots of laughter all around. I swear, when my boyfriend put him down, I saw that his eyes had teared up, too.

All of this happened within a matter of minutes, but those few minutes filled my life with so much joy. I think it did that for all of us. I’ll never forget it. In case you’re wondering, my grandson warmed up very quickly to “the strangers,” and before long, everyone was playing together.

I am filled with joy every time I see my grandson, but sometimes it affects me a little deeper than others. He reminds me of the love that we are all capable of not only giving, but receiving. We don’t always do that, but we should. He has no fear of love. He knows he is loved, and he loves everyone. He can melt the hardest heart with one smile. He can take a ‘macho’ man and turn him to mush, with one tight hug. He can take a cranky grandma and fill her whole being with love, just by looking up at her. He IS love. Wherever he goes, he is love. He spreads it everywhere, whether you ask for it or not. I have yet to see anyone refuse it. I think even if they tried, he would smother them in kisses. That’s just how he is. God, I love him so.