Are you close to your grandparents?
Just recently, I attended a party for the 85th birthday of my friend’s grandmother. I got a chance to talk with her and I realized that grandparents have a lot of interesting stories to tell. Talking with her about her experiences in life showed me how we think alike. I can see how her eyes sparkled when she talked about her husband, their wedding (especially their irish wedding rings) and their life. She seems like a happy and contented woman who’s so full of wisdom and wit.
I realized that having a close relationship with your grandparents can also positively affect our life. While a close bond with grandparents is not always easy to maintain, it is something worth to cherish and value. The older our grandparents get, the more they “bear the strong tang of mellowed wine” because usually the best of the wine is served at the end portion of the feast. Like the centuries-old Stradivarius violins, the more antique they become, the sweeter they sound as they sing midnight melodies.
I have been unfortunate not to have been able to deepen the relationship I had with my grandparents. My father’s parents both died during his early childhood. My mother was not able to enjoy the company of her mother who departed before she reached puberty age. I could not clearly recall when my grandfather ( mom’s dad) died but I know I had very short memory of him.
Although there are obstacles that can challenge the development of a strong bond between you and your grandparents, make the effort to spend quality time with your grandparents. Older people like to know that their grandchildren value their insights.
Give your grandparents opportunities to reminisce about their lives when they were younger. Your own life will become richer in the process.