Posted by The WORD in other words (2023) by Fr Joseph Miras SVD – Canada
December 30 – Octave of Christmas
I had the privilege of living with my paternal grandparents when I was a child. I learned many lessons from them aside from experiencing the tough love and discipline grandparents can only give. Among the other things I value most from them was the wisdom they shared, which at that time did not make sense to me.
My grandmother never tired of telling me to help my parents and care for the family. At that time, I thought that among eight brothers and sisters, it was only me that grandma kept giving particular advice.
As I grew older and my brothers and sisters also had their own growing families, I realized that grandma’s words stuck in me. Even if I grew up and lived apart from my parents and family, I was informed and consulted about important events in their lives.
Though physical contact was not always regular (as in having a scheduled meeting), our connectivity was strong. Though I could not provide any financial help, I felt concerned for them. Though my family was not a religious one, we had kept the faith in a loving God.
I guess we grew up in a certain way (creating our own tradition), but this “tradition” was shaped and formed through the influence of our grandparents. Whether we like it or not, whether we are aware of it or not, the collective wisdom of the past still plays a role in our lives.
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