When I was young, it was really hard for me to relate to my elders. The lack of common interests made a visit to grandma’s house seem like a trip to Mars. BUT as I aged, I began to realize how similar we truly are.
In my early adult years, I found myself spending countless hours enjoying the company of my grandma. I had so many questions about her quest as a wife and mother. She’d been through experiences that resemble my own, and her advice was always simple, yet astounding. I began to understand that despite our huge age gap, our hearts were the same. We were just ‘people’ trying to live a life worth living, AND I came to realize that she defined it so well.
My grandma taught me the value of maintaining a home where family and friends feel welcome, loved, and comfortable. She showed me that I didn’t need to be a CEO or a movie star to matter in this world because being a wife and a mother are roles to honor. She taught me that the simple things in life are the MOST important… the power of listening to others, the long-lasting effects of warm hugs, the virtue of a clean house, and the gift of accepting everyone just how they are.
I’m sad to say that my grandmother passed unexpectedly a few months ago. The shock of this great loss has left my family speechless (which is pretty hard to do). Through the cracks of our fingertips, she slipped away during the early morning of Good Friday, and I miss her dearly. I made a promise to myself to mirror her loving ways to those who are present in my life, and confidently carry the legacy she so beautifully wove.
The position of a mother and a wife matters. We leave a lasting impression on those around us, and someday our children’s children will feel the effects of our hard work and selfless intentions.
Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them. -- James A. Baldwin (Photo Courtesy of hellonedman.com)
