Have you ever had a grandchild come to you with something they’re nervous about; something they think you might not approve of?
As much as we love them, our grandies can sometimes underestimate us and – most importantly – our ability to love them unconditionally.
That’s what happened when a 23-year-old woman wrote to her grandparents announcing her engagement.
“My letter basically said that I was engaged, it was to a woman, and that I’ve never felt happier, safer, and more in love in my entire life,” Katie Mathewson told BuzzFeed.
She was nervous about how her grandparents would respond, assuming they would not approve.
“I knew I’d still love my grandparents even if they weren’t pleased with the news and that I’d forgive and understand their opinions either way,” she said.
But two weeks later, her grandmother replied with this beautiful letter:
Her letter, filled with love, some sage advice and even a complaint about the lack of suitable greeting cards for gay marriages, says:
Dear Katie!
Thank you for sharing this happy news with us Katie. The most important [thing that] matters is your happiness with Mackenzie for the rest of your life.
The rest of the world will follow the ideas as the time moves on, and that is their problem! Just be understanding for those who don’t.
I have been looking for an engagement card that is just right for you but was not successful – sorry.
Your grandfather and I are getting older each day — moods change as the aches and pains occur and yet some days we feel energetic and ready to do anything. So we will see by that time, August 28, 2016. It’s still long time yet.
We send our congratulations and blessings for your health and happiness and, most of all, no matter what may come, we love you very much.
Katie said her grandmother’s letter brought her to tears. “The words were so simple, but the message was powerful and overwhelming and beautiful.”
Sharing the letter on social media in the hope of helping other gay women who are afraid to come out to their grandparents, Katie wrote, “It’s not perfect or poetic, but it’s genuine and it’s love and it surprised me in the best way possible.”
What do you think of this grandmother’s response to her granddaughter? How do you think you would react?
