Grandparents are the epitome of everything good in the world. There’s something about being loved by an old soul that is so heart-warming and satisfying. Their presence is soothing; they make you feel so comfortable and loved. And I am not exaggerating when I say losing a grandparent is one of the most difficult things you can endure.
It’s as if you think they’re going to live forever. When they’re around, you’re not thinking about what would happen if they were gone. And when they are gone, it never seems real. You catch yourself thinking about when they’ll call again or when you’ll see them next. It’s as if your brain is in denial, like you don’t want to face the truth.
Whether your grandparent is your best friend or simply someone you see at family gatherings, the pain of losing them is numbing and consuming. Weeks, months, and years go by, yet you’ll still shed tears when you reminisce on memories with them. Whether it be the numerous times they took you to McDonald’s just so you could play in the playground or putting together a puzzle with them in their living room. Remembering these times will make you wish you could see them, talk to them, hug them, just one last time.
When they’re gone, you start to think of all the things you wish you had said to them. You wish you’d said “I love you” a little more, or called them up more often, just to chat. It really puts the world into this perspective, and you begin to realize more clearly that time is limited and your friends and family won’t be around forever. And though they are gone now and there is nothing you can do, you start to make little moments with your loved ones count. You call them more, you think about them more, and you most definitely begin to cherish every moment you have with them.
A grandparent’s love is one of the most genuine and pure things in the world. They love regardless decisions you’ve made or traits you possess that they may disagree with. They are blind to differences, and they are the embodiment of kindness.
In the beginning, their absence will drain you. You’ll feel like you may never be whole again. The loss is quite literally heartbreaking.
But knowing that you were so loved and cherished by someone is so comforting. Your faults never mattered to them. Your imperfections never changed how they thought of you. They love you endlessly, and that is not a love that dies.
Losing a loved one is hard, especially if you were very close to them. But I find comfort in knowing that I will see my grandmother again someday, and in the meantime, I am going to strive to live more like her: selflessly and happily, living life to the fullest each and every day.
