For those who keep up with CherryCoBiz, you know that I’ve been blessed with an abundance of love in my life. But when today’s writing prompt asked me to share a specific time I’ve felt loved, my mind immediately drifted to my Little Grandma Rose. She was the kind of person who didn’t just love—you felt her love radiate like sunshine, warm and unshakable, even now, nearly 20 years after her passing.

I’ve written about her before, in a tribute that poured out from my soul, but I can’t help but revisit her memory because she was that special to me. If you’d like to explore those memories further, feel free to read A Tribute to My Little Grandma Rose: Memories with a Heartbeat. Today, I want to dive deeper into the love she showed me—love that shaped who I am and continues to guide me even now.

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A Kitchen Table Full of Love

Some of my fondest memories with Grandma Rose happened at her kitchen table. I’d sit across from her, pouring my heart out about my struggles, like not having many friends while my sister seemed to flourish socially. She’d listen with such intent, her kind eyes telling me I was seen, heard, and cherished.

And then she’d tell me something I’ll never forget:
“You were the most beautiful baby I ever saw.”

She said it with such conviction that I had no reason to doubt her. Of course, she was deeply religious, so why wouldn’t I believe her? Out of her four kids, all her grandkids, and my siblings, I was the perfect baby in her eyes. It was a love so genuine, so tailored to each of us, that for years I kept it to myself—I didn’t want anyone else to feel less special!

It wasn’t until after she passed that my siblings and I were reminiscing, and I let it slip: “You know, Grandma always said I was the most beautiful baby she’d ever seen.” My sister and brother burst out laughing and said, “She told us the same thing!”

That was Grandma Rose’s magic. She made each of us feel like we were her favorite, her perfect baby, her most treasured gift. And the truth is, to her, we all were. She wasn’t lying—she just loved us all so completely that her words felt uniquely ours.

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A Prayer for Friendship

When I told her about my loneliness, she didn’t just listen. She prayed with me. She prayed that I’d find a best friend who would light up my life. And while I didn’t always understand the depth of those prayers at the time, I see now how much love she poured into them. She didn’t just want me to have friends—she wanted my heart to feel full and connected.

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Love That Lasts

Grandma Rose lived with grace, honesty, and integrity. She taught me to value those traits, and her influence is a guiding light in my life. Losing her was one of the hardest things I’ve ever faced, and even now, tears well up when I think about her. I hate crying (really, I do!), but sometimes love has a way of breaking through those walls.

I got to love her for 29 wonderful years. It’s been 20 years since she passed, and her absence still aches. But the memories of her—the warmth of her voice, the sparkle in her eye, the way she made every single one of us feel like the most perfect person in the world—keep her alive in my heart.

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A Legacy of Love

Grandma Rose’s love wasn’t just about building us up; it was about leaving us with a piece of her heart to carry forward. And so, even now, I strive to live the way she did—with honesty, kindness, and an unwavering commitment to family.

She’s the reason I believe in the power of love to heal, to uplift, and to connect. Her love was a gift, one I hope to pass on to my children and everyone I meet.

If you’ve been touched by someone like my Grandma Rose, take a moment to honor them. Share their memory, live their lessons, and keep their love alive. And if you want to know more about the heart that inspires so much of what I do, take a look at A Tribute to My Little Grandma Rose.

Because love like hers is rare, and it deserves to be celebrated again and again.