Claim. The affection between grandparent and grandchild joins the root and sprout of the family, allowing the whole family to be embraced.
Elaboration. SMM observes that a grandchild may demand grandparents in a way that would be rude in another context, yet the family delights in the longing because the child “misses his grandfather” (CSG 4.2 §6, 139-15, 1986.1.26). The reason is that grandparents provide the broadest embrace: a tired father or busy sibling may push the child away, but a grandfather can hold him “for an hour or two.” SMM names the structure: “This is the same as the tip of a tree becoming one with the root.” When root and sprout like each other, all connected roots and branches are drawn into harmony. The family line is therefore healed from both ends: eldest ancestor and youngest descendant.
See also. give-and-take-action