I am sure that most of you remember the song by Bill withers, “Grand Ma’s Hands.”
Grandmothers have been a loving member of the family and cherished resource since the
beginning of time. Over the years the rolls of grandmothers have evolved. Let’s take a look at
the lyrics of the song as we explore beloved grandmother.
Verse 1 By Bill Withers
Grandma’s hands clapped in church on Sunday morning
Grandma’s hands played a tambourine so well
Grandma’s hands used to issue out a warning
She’d say, “Billy, don’t you run so fast
Might fall on a piece of glass
Might be snakes there in that grass”
Grandma’s hands
Yes, this grandmother in verse one seems to remind of my own, “Big Mama.” Now I’m a
Southern girl and I am sure that the affectionate name is not mine alone. There are
many that may seem to fit the bill, but none like my own.
The question on Sunday mornings in the Fines home was not if, but when we would be
leaving for church. The only one that was exempt was my father. He believed that God
was everywhere and he could just meet him on the back porch any morning he chose.
There was not a tambourine player at the church but there was a Senior Choir led by
my soprano singing grandmother. And she was the president as well. Leadership.
If you know anything about being a kid and in front sitting on the front row in a Black
Baptist church, you will understand my next sentence. From the front row of the choir
stand she would issue out her warnings with her eyes. You knew by the look in her eyes
if you were talking too much, if you were too loud, or if you were fidgeting too much.
Eyes up, too loud. Eyes down, sit still. Eyes dead on shut up or the polite way, please
be quit. In the end you understood clearly and you also knew that a stern talking to was
in the near future.
Today the need for grandmothers to keep the tradition of Proverbs 22:6, “ Train up a child
in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it,” has slipped out
of grand ma’s hands. Either the new found grandmother has ceased to visit church
herself or is not a part of the inner circle of her grandchildren. It may be due to the shifts
in family dynamics or economics has not allowed her to be a strong participant the way
she wants to. “Grand Mothers”, had a keen since of discernment and foresight. They
were able to see so much further in the spirit realm than the natural eye could see.
She’d say, “Billy, don’t you run so fast – Might fall on a piece of glass – Might be snakes
there in that grass” Grand Ma’s Hand.