Celebrating Our Grandparents and Elders
In 1969, a 9-year-old boy wrote to President Richard Nixon asking the President to consider naming one day a year to celebrate grandparents. The idea from this youngster took another 8 years before the US Senate signed legislation into law proclaiming that the First Sunday after Labor Day would be known as National Grandparents Day.
In January 2021, Pope Francis established a World Wide Day to honor and recognize grandparents and the elderly. This day will take place yearly on the 4th Sunday in July close to the Feast Day of St Anne and St. Joachim, the grandparents of Jesus. Pope Francis, in establishing this day, wanted to remind all of us of the role that our grandparents and elders have played in helping each of us develop into mature adults.
“hearing the words “I love you” seemingly for no reason at all”
Having a chance recently to ask some friends and family members who are grandparents “what is the best thing about being a “Nana or Papa” – “a Nona or Nonno” - “a grandma or granddad?” All of them said, “it was the best time in their lives and sometimes it was one of the most difficult.” The best times included sleepovers; cheering on the grandkids at baseball and hockey games; cooking their favorite foods which included lots of ice cream and pizza; playing laser tag (and letting them win); as well as receiving spontaneous hugs and hearing the words “I love you” seemingly for no reason at all but just for being present.
Some of the difficult times came when hurts were expressed from not being included in a game at school; being bullied in the schoolyard or on the ice rink – and as the grandparent, we needed to offer words of encouragement and show examples of treating those who hurt them with kindness. Other times came when they were confronted by an unexpected family breakdown and as a grandparent being called to listen to the feelings of confusion as they were expressed; being there when sudden death came of a pet or a sibling or another grown up. “We just did not want our grandkids to suffer hurts or sadness so, as their Nana and Papa, we wanted to take the hurt away as best as we could.”
“Angels cannot be everywhere and that is why God created grandparents”
I noticed a small plaque on the side table at the home of a friend. It reads: “Angels cannot be everywhere and that is why God created grandparents.” In listening to her grandchildren – actually teenagers now - who have come through the days of childhood - talking about their jobs, their girlfriends/boyfriends, and their new interests brought a smile to the face of the “esteemed grandparent who could proudly claim ‘I had something to do with this person – and WOW did I do a great job!”
The flower named to honor our grandparents and elders is the Forget-me-Not. A rather appropriate flower to recall and remember times with our grandparents and the elders in our families as we celebrate their day on September 12, 2021.
-Sister Ann MacDonald, CSJ