When God Sent Grandma: A Tribute to the Woman Who Became My North Star

 

Some people are born into our lives. Others arrive like divine appointments—unexpected, unassuming, and yet, so powerfully necessary that you realize in hindsight, they were exactly what your soul had been crying out for. For me, that person is Grandma. Ryan’s grandmother, yes. But by grace, she’s also mine now. And I don’t say that lightly.

Growing up, my grandfather was my moral compass, my teacher, my protector—my everything. He was the kind of man who didn’t just give advice, he embodied it. The kind of man who taught me that being kind didn’t mean being weak, and that standing up for yourself didn’t require stepping on others. When he died, it was like someone took the scaffolding out from under my soul. I’ve carried that void for years…until I met her.

When he died, it felt like the light in my life dimmed. I wandered through grief with this gaping emptiness, not even realizing just how much I needed someone to fill that space—not to replace him, but to remind me of what he stood for.

And then... there was Grandma.

Now let me be clear—Grandma didn’t waltz into my life on a cloud of trust and instant acceptance. Nope. She was cautious, guarded, and wise enough to know that Ryan’s past often came with a revolving door of “this time it’s different” faces. And I get it. I would’ve been skeptical too. But what happened when she opened that front door and let me into her home… I didn’t just meet his grandma—I met the woman who would become my safe place and it was nothing short of divine alignment.

It wasn’t immediate, but it was real. The kind of real that builds slow and stays strong. The kind that makes you want to sit a little longer, listen a little deeper, and be a little better—because you know you’re in the presence of someone sacred.

She has this presence—fierce, wise, grounded. A woman who’s lived, lost, learned, and loved deeply. Her guidance wrapped around me like a warm blanket on the coldest night. Her kindness isn’t soft; it’s strong. She doesn’t just listen—she hears. She doesn’t just love—she fights for you with that love. And when she believes in you? Whew, you feel like you can take on the entire world barefoot with nothing but duct tape and hope.

She didn’t replace my grandpa—no one ever could. Grandma didn’t replace my grandpa, but she picked up where that heartbreak left off. She became the whisper of wisdom I missed. The “you’ve got this” when my knees felt like buckling. The hug that said, “You’re not alone,” even when the world felt like it was falling apart. She became my safe haven when the world felt too heavy. My anchor when I was drifting. My reminder that love doesn’t always come wrapped in bloodlines—it often finds us in the wreckage and refuses to let go.

Grandma is not just wise, she’s ferociously wise. She is the kind of woman you study. She’s lived through storms that would break most people, yet she stands with grace. She’s taught me more about compassion and strength than any book or preacher ever could.

The kind of woman who listens with her whole soul and speaks truth like it’s an art form. She's resilient—not because life was easy, but because she refused to let hardship harden her. She's soft in the right places and steel where it counts.

To those of you who are lucky enough to still have your grandparents: charish them with everything you've got. Truly. Call them. Visit them. Learn from them. Hug them longer. Listen without distractions. Tell them the things you think they already know. Because when that connection is gone, it leaves a hollow echo in your soul that no one else can fill. I’ve known that emptiness. And I’ve also known the miracle of feeling it heal when someone new walks in—someone who becomes your person when you least expect it. One day, that physical presence will be gone, and you’ll be left with memories and echoes—and let me tell you, echoes don’t hug you back.

So, Grandma… this one’s for you.

Thank you for being the stronghold we didn’t even know we needed. For loving fiercely. For giving without needing credit. For being the example of grace under fire. Thank you for holding me in my brokenness, for celebrating my wins like they were your own, and for becoming the light that helped me see again.

Thank you. For being you. For being strong. For being patient and bold and honest and beautifully real. Thank you for loving me, guiding me, and giving me the space to just be. You are a gift I never saw coming, and one I’ll never stop being thankful for.

You are loved more than words can ever hold. And while we may never be able to fully repay you for all that you are and all that you’ve done… we will spend the rest of our lives trying to make you proud.

We love you. Fiercely. Eternally. Unapologetically.

Your Girl 💛

#GrandparentsAreEverything #NeverForget #Strength #UnconditionalLove #MyNorthStar