The rain pecking on the window was a soothing sound that helped drown out the beeping of the machines in the hospital room. It distracted me from the reality of my grandma laying in that hospital bed. She was recovering from surgery and was fast asleep. She was my world, and there was no way I was going to let her stay there by herself.

I packed up my overnight bag, a pillow and some ear plugs and prepared myself for a long night in an uncomfortable recliner.There I sat, perched beside her bed watching it rain. The nurses came in for their nightly check and soon it was lights out. In the middle of the night she awoke. She gently called out my name and I saw the most beautiful smile on her face. She was happy to see me. She needed a drink and for the first time ever, I was the one taking care of her. She was tired, but she wanted to talk. So we talked. We listened to music and talked some more. It was a night I’ll never forget.

You see, I was there to serve her. It was a rare occasion that she had my undivided attention. My busy life left me fragmented and living for what was next. It wasn’t until years later that I realized how important that night was.

I am so thankful for that time I spent with her. Loving on her. Showing her how important she was to me. That night serves as a reminder that beautiful memories can be made when we take time to live in the moment.