I love coffee mugs.
Wait, let me clarify… I love coffee. That makes mugs a necessity. So, I’m always on the lookout for my next favorite coffee container.
When I was shopping the other day, I spotted several mugs decorated with my grandmother name – “Nana.” How nice! Not only would any of them make a very adequate holder for my coffee, but everyone would also know the coffee belonged to me. But, I couldn’t purchase all of them. I needed to choose one.
So, I began to evaluate the pros and cons of each mug. Did it fit my hand? Was it thick enough to help keep the coffee warm? Did I like the colors and design?
Then I noticed the variation of the sayings on each mug and wondered if any of them describe me in my role as “Nana.”
The three slogans read as follows:
- Ask not what your Nana can do for you, but what you can do for your Nana
- Nana. Love, Live, Spoil
- Life is Better with Nana
Mug #1
I’m going to be honest. At first, this mug was my favorite. Like me, it’s a bit of a smart-alec. I thought, “Wow! It would be great if somebody did something for Nana!”
Then I realized Mug #3 is simply a reflection of our self-absorbed, “it’s all about me” culture. That’s not the kind of Nana I want to be. That’s not the kind of person I want to be.
Mug #2
Do I “love, live, and spoil?” I’ve definitely got the “spoil” thing down to a science. (But for the long term, that’s probably not a good thing.) And, oh my, I do “love” my grandson! I would battle a pack of ferocious wolves to protect him. Grandmothers don’t have to work on the “love” part; I’m pretty sure God wired us for this one.
Spoil? Check. Love? Check. But what about “live?” When I’m with Micah, do I “live” in the moment? For the most part, yes. But not always. Sometime I’m writing a blog in my head or checking email on my phone.
I forget that “these days” are limited. The days when Micah says, “Play with me all day Nana.” Or the days he calls me on Facetime from his house 4 hours away and says, “Nana, come home.” “These days” will be over in a flash.
Mug #3
Well, let’s see. I can name and transform all of Micah’s Rescue Bots. But, is my grandson’s life better because I’m part of it? Will Micah be a better person because of my influence?
Spiderman t-shirts, ice cream cones, or the latest Rescue Bot will not give my grandson a “better” life. Yes, those things are fun, but am I investing in his life in a way that will matter for the long haul?
Lessons from the Mugs
You may be wondering which mug I brought home. I decided to not buy the one that best described me.
My “Nana” role is still fairly new. I’m only three years into this gig. I can still evaluate for possible redirection. I choose to learn a few lessons from the Nana mugs and select the one that best described the “Nana” I want to be.
- Live in the moment – When I’m spending time with Micah – and future grandchildren – I need to be present in every moment. I must “live” every last one of them while they still want me around.
- Make their lives “better” – Yes, I will still buy them ice cream, but I must make a positive spiritual impact. I need to “Nana” in a way that points my grandkids to Jesus and helps foster a desire in their hearts to know God.
- Don’t be afraid to be silly – (Okay, I had to find a lesson in Mug #1.) I will laugh, sing, and dance with them. I will make goofy faces over Facetime. I will pretend, yet again, to be a gorilla. Because, I don’t ever want to stop hearing, “Play with me all day, Nana!”
What kind of grandmother- or mother – do you want to be? What would be the slogan on your “Nana” mug?
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Kathy Howard is a precious friend whom I know and love! She calls herself a “confused southerner.” Raised in Louisiana, she has moved with her engineer husband around the U.S. and Canada. She says “pop” instead of “Coke” and “you guys” as often as “ya’ll.” But those things are just superficial – she’s still a southern girl at heart!
Kathy longs to see women stand firm in their faith in God no matter the circumstances of their lives. She encourages them to cling to God through troubles and trials to find strength, protection, comfort, and guidance. Kathy will help women:
- Develop the courage to follow God even when it means taking a risk
- Connect the wisdom and guidance of God’s Word to the decisions you face each day
- Find relevance for life in your relationship with God
- Stand firm in God’s strength, guidance, and peace when life’s circumstances are shaky
- Gain satisfaction and joy through a deeper, more intimate relationship with God
The author of six books, Kathy has a Masters in Christian Education and a certificate in Women’s Ministry from the Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary. She has been teaching the Bible for over 25 years and speaks regularly at women’s retreats and events. (Download a PDF of Kathy’s “one-sheet” for more information.)
Kathy and her husband live in the Houston area and have three children, a son-in-law, and one precious grandson. When the family gets together there are also five dogs in the mix. Kathy writes to have something to do while she drinks coffee and eats chocolate.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT KATHY & THE AWESOME RESOURCES SHE HAS WRITTEN BY VISITING HER WEBSITE AT WWW.KATHYHOWARD.ORG!
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