“My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I write my verses for the king.” Psalm 45:1

    What do Kay Granger, Goldie Hawn, and Diane Sawyer have in common? Answer: They are all grandmothers and proud of it!

    So too me! Being a grandmother is the best! It's the only thing in life that is not overrated. What a blessing to be able to share the joy and abundance of this season with fellow sojourners along the path.

    As we approach July 4, the celebration of our county's independence from England , it is a good idea to take inventory in just how many ways we are free, spiritually as well as physically.

    As grandmothers, we are now in a season of freedom. Not only do we live in a free country, but we are free to be who we were created to be by our loving father in heaven. We are each unique. We each have a story. As grandmothers, we have the privilege of living out that freedom, of telling our stories, of praising God for our freedom in Christ, and of passing down our faith to the next generation.

    What call could be more important than that.

    In this column we will discuss the privileges and responsibilities of the 21 st century grandmother – baby boomers and beyond – who have entered this season of freedom and are celebrating the journey. Grandmothers, grandchildren, aging, and life will be the topics that we will explore on a monthly basis. Praising God for our own mothers and grandmothers, telling our stories, sharing the joys and sorrows of the aging process, dealing with loss and grief, exploring new avenues of possibility, and applying wisdom and biblical principals to our world are our goals.

    Before we begin this journey, let me introduce myself. I am a wife, mother of two, and grandmother of four. I am also a therapist, freelance-writer, author, bookkeeper, volunteer, workshop trainer, and poet. I love the mountains, fall, a cool summer breeze, and snow. But most of all I love God, family, and the blessings of my life and his creation.

    I look forward to growing old with my children and grandchildren. I desire to make the most of each day in the time I have left on this earth. Learning how to do this and sharing it with others is one of the goals of my life.

    A reflection on history reveals that the journey to independence was not an easy one for the colonists. Sacrifice, trial and error, stepping out on faith, leaving comfort zones and sometimes family were all part of the new world experience.

    Reflection on our own history reveals that as Christians our freedom has already been won for us by Christ's sacrifice on the cross. We now live in the new world. But our world is not of the flesh; it is of the spirit. As we walk out this journey of faith, combining our life experience, life lessons, wisdom, and hope, we have an opportunity to make a difference in not only the lives of our families, but in the lives of an unknown and untold generation to come.

    How to do this?

    When I take go on vacation, I spend a lot of time planning. Reaching into my closet, I check one item at a time to be sure everything fits and coordinates with the rest of my wardrobe. If there is something I have outgrown I know it is time to discard it and replace it with something more practical or useful. Packing items for comfort such as blow dryers, hand lotion, and hair gel is important. Not forgetting the essentials, medicines, glasses, and comfortable shoes, is a necessity. Once done, making sure it all fits into the suitcase is of prime importance.

    One of the best kept secrets of grandmothers is that our spiritual suitcases are already packed and ready to go. We've spent a lot of years adding and subtracting, discarding, and saving. We each carry an amazing amount of life, joy, love, and laughter in our suitcases, which are now so full they are close to overflowing. There is no greater gift in life than to pour ourselves out on our families, breathing life, and giving hope, offering encouragement, being there through thick and thin.

    Yes, we are prepared for the journey.

    Yet the journey for each of us is unique and different. Or own travel has taken dips and turns, ups and downs. Our history has made us who we are. Taking an inventory, especially of where we are going and where we have been is vital in order to understand how important the experiences in our suitcases are to our life story. Figuring out how to coordinate and organize these experiences is important in order that we leave a spiritual legacy to those who come behind. How to best pass them on is an issue of the most importance to me.

    In the coming months we will explore many topics of interest to grandmothers. Who knows the twists and turns we will take.

    My prayer is that we will each discover more about ourselves on this journey, that we will be drawn to reflect and act whenever appropriate. That we will celebrate, embrace, and give thanks to God for this freedom we have in order to pass it down to the next generation.

    How fun. Come join me on a monthly basis.

    All aboard! I say let the journey begin …

Marty Norman is a wife, mother, and grandmother, who lives in Fort Worth , Texas . She is the author of “Generation G – Advice for Savvy Grandmothers Who Will Never Go Gray.”