I don't think there is a Grandmother alive who doesn't worry for her grandchildren. But there is always one out of each group that commands a little more attention than all the others. It's not that they love a particular grandchild more. It's just that, as Grandmothers they have that special ability to foresee certain frailties in their Granchilden and that is the main ingredient that most Grandchild-Granparent relationships are made of.

My Granny was no different. As a matter of fact, ever since I can remember, every Granny that I have met while growing up in Jamaica had that special grandchild that they worried about day and night. The lady next door to my Granny worried about her beloved Winston, Ms. Quickly at the Mart worried about her Sharona and Granny, she worried about Magsie.

I don't quite remember when her preoccupation started, perhaps it was when my biological parents divorced and my mother became severely ill. Or maybe, it was when my uncle, her son adopted me?

Usually, one would assume that only "problem children" command such great attention. But that was not so in my case. I was never the proverbial "black sheep" or anything like that. On the contrary, I was very bright, precocious, extroverted and my greatest trait was that I was always a friendly child. Maybe, it was something in one of these dispositions that my Granny foresaw as a detriment to me.

Although I had a lot of drama in my young life, I managed to overcome with positive thinking, hard work , family and God. I believe one of the reasons Granny worried for me, was that she new I had an angelic quality. This quality lead me to the "niceness" disease.

Perhaps it was because I went to Christian Schools for most of my life or because I had a yearning to make life better or people happy. The niceness disease made Granny worry for me tremendously.

I was the child who would welcome new children and families when they moved into the neighborhood. I was the matchmaker of the elderly. When I saw my Granny getting too lonely, I would be the one going door to door to find her a church sister or a companion to talk to.

It would not be unusual for me to bring home a troupe of miscellaneous children asking my Granny to cook something nice and entertain us.

Granny would always say, "Lord have mercy! What raccamasacca baggage Magsie bringing home today? That child has a mind of curiousity."

As I got older, Granny also realized that I had a soft spot fo every sad story. I was always willing to help. Some would call it gullible, but I was no stranger to sadness and sorrow. That is probably why, I empathized with the weak among us.

When my boyfriends had sob stories about money and family drama, I was the one who always came to their rescue. I always left their lives better than they came into mine.

Granny used to always say to me, "There is a reason nice guys finish last.........because smarter people take advantage of them. When they are done, they have nothing left for themselves."

Isn't that always true? Toxic people come into our lives with all sorts of bacanal and drama. They distract us with the theatrics and histrionics, and before we know it. They have depleted our spirits and drained the life out of us.

These are the reasons why my Granny worried for me so. Every angelic creature has a devilsh side too, but mostly, Granny knew that my angelic side outweighed my devilish, impish, behaviour.

Granny used to always say, "Magsie, people will be drawn to you because they think that you are simple and naive. You and I know that you are not. Your aura exudes differently. Sweetheart these charlatans, they see you coming from a mile away."

Granny spent many a waking hour fasting and praying for me. I always knew she had me on her mind, but it became evident in the verses she left behind.

She wrote, "Magsie, have many friends, treat them well, but never to them your secrets tell, because when a friend, becomes a foe, all over the world your secrets go."

Granny must have been a sage because people have misused my friendship for various reasons unbeknownst to me. They came into my life under various disguises only to wreak havoc. Because of my trusting nature and naivety they were able to be slick, and pulled off many deceptive escapades.

But there is comfort in knowing that through the years my Granny prayed Ecclesiates Verse #3 for me. "To everything there is a season and a will to every purpose under the heaven........A time to kill, and a time to heal, a time to break down, a time to build up...."

So despite my soft nature and people willing to take advantage of that, my Granny saved me from myself many times over. Her guidance taught me that those traits are the reasons why people will gravitate towards me and why folks will despise me. Ultimately, it is up to me to channel those good emotions effectively and towards individuals who are more deserving and appreciative.

This article is for all the Grannies who worry about their little Dannys, Juniors, Chrissies or Sarahs, know that their weakness is their greatness. That quality that irritates you to no end, will be the quality that will bring their brilliance to them. Recognize it, own it and direct it wisely. The results will be astonishing.