WORLD DAY FOR GRANDPARENTS AND THE ELDERLY
There is a world that we have not known and a history that lives within our DNA and cells. This gift of our ancestry is so sacred and unique to who we are. Grandparents are a link to the past and a reminder of the finite nature of our lives. It is fitting to have a day to recognize and celebrate the importance of the elderly and grandparents.
They are a window into the past and a bridge to the future.
The memories of my grandparents are etched in my mind and take me back to childhood, goodness and love. And then, the seasons go round and I became a grandparent myself. I have a picture of my mother braiding my daughter’s hair, just as she braided mine and I find myself braiding my granddaughter’s hair. My mother gave my children rosaries, just as my grandmother gave one to me. Grandparents have an important role to play in helping to shape a child’s values, worldview and faith. They can be especially close to children in a unique role that is supportive to the whole family.
In most cultures, grandparents and the elderly are given reverence. They carry the story that will live on through their children and grandchildren. This is like a sacred thread that binds a family together. My grandson, Vincent, has a Lolo and Lola. These are his grandparents from the Philippines. His great-grandparents live with them. What a blessing it is that he will receive so much from this rich cultural heritage, surrounded by love.
My children remember their grandparents’ gardens, coke floats, wooden toy boxes made by their grandfather, special Campbell’s soup bowls, going to the movies and taking care of baby rabbits. We must never take this role in the family for granted. Watching generations grow and seeing that family love is timeless and is like the strong roots of a tree.
It is important to ask for the stories that grandparents and the elderly carry. Their wisdom and insight often go unappreciated until time has passed on and they are gone. Recently, my granddaughter was in my office, and she noticed a bible and an image of Jesus. She said to my daughter: “Grandma likes Jesus. So does my other grandma. Old people seem to really like Jesus.” I laughed when my daughter shared this with me, but it speaks to something important. Faith is passed on to our children in many ways, beyond words.
On this World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, I ask for blessings on my grandparents whose lives were much more challenging than mine. They carried faith and a zest for life which I am grateful for today.
Jan Bentham is a retired Religion Coordinator with the Ottawa Catholic School Board. She is a musician, serving in music ministry at St. Ignatius Parish in Ottawa. She currently works at St. Paul’s University with the Catholic Women’s Leadership Program.
