A Grandparent’s Love
Growing up my brother and I had both sets of grandparents active in our lives. When my parents were stationed in England and found out they were pregnant with twins, our grandparents jumped into action. My mom was hospitalized and was told she had to gain 1 pound a day for 30 days!! Her parents filled a huge suitcase with my mom's favorite donuts from a bakery in Collinsville and shipped them to England. My mom actually blamed my brother and I for most of our life for that extra 30 pounds she could never lose.
Wherever we were stationed while my dad was in the Air Force, our grandparents came to us or we went to them. They were so relevant and important in our daily lives even if we lived far apart. In 4th grade, we relocated from Texas to southern Illinois near both sets of grandparents. I can say now we were truly blessed to have them around as much as we did. They loved us unconditionally but differently than our parents. They helped shape who Mark and I would become as adults, as parents, and for my brother as a grandfather. All 4 of our grandparents came to every game they could, even through college. They drove through snow storms and stayed in horrible little hotels just to support us in what we loved. They came to graduations for high school and college, weddings, births of children, deaths of grandchildren. We were blessed enough to have all of our grandparents until we were graduating college and then 6 years ago our last living grandmother passed. For 47 years we had a grandparent or more in our lives.
I'm thinking about this because in my children's short 14 and 18 years they have attended the funerals of 4 grand or great grandparents, and they have Grandma Helen still here. My parents died 10 years ago this year, and unfortunately, their paternal grandfather died last week at the age of 82. They have loved and been loved immensely in the time they've shared with their grandparents and great grandmother. Trinity was only 4-1/2 when my mom and dad passed. She remembers them but barely. She knows stories and recognizes them in pictures, but she mostly hears about them from me or my brother when we are talking or telling stories.
The kids grandfather, whom they called Boppa, hadn't been physically able to come to games, concerts, recitals, graduations in about 6 or so years. But he watched everything he could online. They knew he couldn't be there, but they were always excited to share with him how things went at the specific game or event. They always tried to include him. After Dave passed last Tuesday, Peyton texted Trinity to tell her that since Boppa had passed he wasn't in pain or suffering anymore and he would be able to watch them play golf and volleyball. He would be at all of their games now. They both felt relief. They loved him so much but also knew how hard the last year had been. Boppa would light up whenever they entered a room, even on his worst days. Here I was feeling bad for my kids about all that they are going to miss with their grandparents, but then I realized how lucky they are still. Yes, they miss all of their grandparents, but they know great loss because they had great love.
I like to think that Dave is helping look after my girls in Heaven and no doubt arguing with my dad about politics again (if that's allowed up there). For all of you grandparents out there, hug and love on those grandbabies when you can. They are truly a blessing. And for those of you lucky enough to have grandparents still in your life - call them, visit them, love them. They are so deserving. Like the saying goes, grandparents hold our tiny hands for just a little while, but our hearts forever. Rest in Peace, Dave.
