While I was growing up, I was fortunate to have not one, but four great grandparents in my life. I’ve been told thousands of times that I am blessed, and I certainly know it. I love them and have learned so much from them.
On Christmas Eve when I was little, my sister, my cousins and I would run around my great grandmother’s land watching the dark sky for Rudolph’s glowing red nose. The next day, my family would go to another great grandfather’s and grandmother’s house, stuff ourselves into their living room and pass around gifts. One day, my great grandmother took my sister and me to different spots in our area and explained their significance in our family history. She showed us pictures and taught us our roots. My great grandparents recognized the importance of family and tradition, and they instilled that love and curiosity in me.
They also stressed the importance of hard work and responsibility. Not only did they come from very different times, but at 90 years old, many of them were still doing yard work and housework and socializing and shopping. They were determined to take care of themselves and be dependent on no one. This also revealed their strength. No one else has taught me that I have the ability to push through pain quite like my great grandparents. I have no doubt that they were and are fighters.
One set of my great grandparents built their little house by hand in 1949. My great grandmother still lives in it now. She laughs when she remembers first moving in because it was built a little crooked, but she has great pride in it, as she should. This showed me that there is beauty in simplicity. Another spent his life purchasing acres and acres of farm land to provide for the family and to make sure he left us something when he was gone. Every one of them has always been so grateful for what they have and never wished for more.
My great granddaddy taught me what it means to be a gentleman, and set the standard for how I expect a man to treat me. He never ceased opening doors, pulling out chairs and giving up his seat for ladies, even in his advancing age. I absolutely adored him, even at a very young age, for his kindness and dignity and the way his eyes sparkled when he had a joke in his mind.
My great grandparents never looked sick and elderly to me. They took pride in their appearance, and taught me the importance of self-presentation. They always dressed nice and straightened their posture, but more importantly, they made sure to keep their minds sharp. They read daily, did brain teasers and memory exercises and watched the news. Because of this, they showed me how to maintain a quick wit and the importance of continuous learning as I grow older.
I have one great grandmother who has completely embraced technology, and I sometimes suspect she might be savvier than me. I have another who doesn’t want a computer in her house and is satisfied with only a landline phone. Both are unique and equal in their wisdom, neither are ignorant of the times they are living in and both are respected for their lifestyle choices. They showed me that embracing change is good, but it is equally acceptable to remain where you are comfortable.
They knew that presence is important. I have always had a ridiculously supportive family, and for that I am so thankful. My great grandparents started the chain of support, and still come to every performance or event that they can. They may not have known what was happening in a tennis match, but to look over my shoulder and see them behind the fence supporting me was incredibly uplifting. And surely they tired of hearing Jesus Loves the Little Children, but they never missed one of their many great grandkids’ choir performances. They are the foundation of my supportive and close family, and because of them I will one day do the same for my children and grandchildren.
I exchanged handwritten letters with one of my great grandmothers until she died—a skill I would otherwise not possess. Another taught me to make biscuits from scratch. I would not trade the unique lessons I learned from having great grandparents for anything. They taught me to respect the land and have pride for my country. They showed me the importance of warmth, honesty, and openness. They showed me the effect a gentle spirit and an easy laugh can have, and I strive to be more like them every day.
