Ima and Abba, mom and dad. But they’re my grandparents. Since the day I was born and even now my grandparents have played such a major role in my life. Once I was born my grandparents wanted me to call them Mama and Papa which is common in Hispanic culture. Myparents didn’t like that idea, so they settled with being called Ima and Abba, since the meaningbehind it was still the same. Though they played such a major role in my life in their eyes Godshould be playing an even bigger one.The first year of my life I grew up with my grandparents on my dad’s side. They were mygrandparents, and pastors of a church. With that I understand their love for God and church. Growing up with them meant I was growing up in church, with their beliefs, and their standards.In their house was also my great grandma who was also very religious. When my great grandma
was still alive, my Ima would always make me say “Bendición Lala ”as soon as I walked in thedoor of the house. Before taking off my shoes I would walk straight to her room down our longhall in the house. I remember always giving her the biggest hug, and kissing her on the cheek togreet her before asking for her blessing. She was always so eager to say “Dios te bendiga,” or “God bless you” with a tight hug and kiss back. She always appreciated the way I greeted her; it
was respectful not only for her but to God as well in her eyes.
When I moved out of Ima and Abba’s house and there was now this constant reminder that I needed to go to church every Sunday, I had to be a part of the church’s youth group, and I had to
have this love for God the way they did. When we had moved, we were no longer close to the church. It became hard to go to church every Sunday, which made everything else more difficult.
Though this pressure felt intense it was only when I thought about it. Overall, it made me feel anxious to speak to my grandparents for a while. Any conversation we had the thought of them
bringing up how I needed to go to church more ran in the back of my mind as though it was a race horse. This was only because I knew the relationship, they wanted me to have with God just
wasn’t there. My parents ended up splitting up, I lived closer to the church again with my father. This was when the Girls Ministry was introduced to me in church. It was a Bible study group for girls
around my age. Though this isn’t the exact situation as David, thinking back on my experiences there it makes me think of him in Hebrew school. The similarities that pop up are that it was
neither of our decisions to go. David was forced to go to Hebrew school because his father wanted him to, he ended up really enjoying going to Hebrew school. My Grandparents forced me
to go, I was excited to learn and have this a part of my life, only because this would make my grandparents happy. One day after class my ministry teacher Ms. Linda spoke to my Grandparents. I had to memorize a bible verse for class and recite it. I remember the prep,
constantly thinking about the verse, saying it out loud to myself, to my parents, and my grandparents. Thinking wow even this prep alone would make my grandparents happy, with the way the word of God was running through my thoughts. Ms. Linda told them how well I did in class. The smiles they had were priceless, their smiles going from ear to ear, their eyes as wide as they could be, and nodding their heads as they listened and spoke about me.
The happiest my Grandparents are to see me is when I’m in church. They make me feel like this relationship with God has to flow through my body as though it’s my blood. As though it has to
seep into every thought, action, or even word that comes from my mouth. My relationship with them still feels intense, but they’re family. Knowing that makes it a little easier to deal with the four-way relationship I have with them. (Me, Ima, Abba, and God)