Friday, April 8, 2016

A to Z- Authentic Inspiration: Grandparents




My Grandparents are a great inspiration to me.  Although both sets are no longer living I am so very thankful for the influence they had on my life while they were living, and what continues even now to inspire me to be the best person I can be.  




My Grandparents, especially my Dad's parents were able to breathe light into my life.  They were my safety net a lot of times, when I wasn't sure what was going on in my family.  My Grandma especially listened to me, gave me advice (even if I didn't follow it), but more then that she loved me.  She loved me despite me acting "just like my Father."  She loved me even when I put glitter all over the upstairs carpeted floor and then tried to clean it up with tape. She loved me despite all the trouble my cousins and I got into.  She continued to love me.




What inspires me most about my Grandparents is that they were doers.  They didn't seem to sit around comparing their lives to those around them.  They didn't give up when things got tough.  They kept going even when their kids didn't always visit.  They were generous with their time and energy.  Even if it was a different kind of generosity then what I know today.  




They were faithful, honest, and hard-working.  They loved God, and taught me how to love Him.  They were traditional in every sense of the word.  They held to their values no matter what that meant.  




My Grandparents inspired me to live my life.  They may not have always been 100% behind my decisions, but they tried to love and support me in every way they could.  They inspired me to grow things from the ground, hunt, fish, and take adventures into the woods.  They inspired me to love what has been created for us, and to not take advantage of any time.  



They inspired me to trust others, and lean on family.  They inspired me by their marriages, and their faithfulness to each other.  







 What children need most are the essentials that grandparents provide in abundance. They give unconditional love, kindness, patience, humor, comfort, lessons in life. And, most importantly, cookies. ~Rudy Giuliani





6 comments:

Stephanie Bird said...

Lovely post! It leaves me wrapped warmly in the blanket of memories from my grandparents. Thanks for sharing!

Stephanie Faris said...

Such a sweet tribute! I see too often that elderly people don't have visits from their family very often. Life just gets too busy. Once their children have children of their own, there's always some soccer game or school thing the family has to stay home to do, in addition to work schedules and such. That's why these senior neighborhoods are popping up that have rec. centers where people can get together and play games and socialize. Peer bonding is HUGE among baby boomers.

tawnya said...

Thanks to both of you for stopping by and commenting!!! Appreciate it!

Sharon Himsl said...

It makes me wish my grandchildren lived closer but we try to make for lost time when we visit. I learned a lot from mine!

Lisa said...

What a sweet post! I was never close to my grandparents so it makes me happy that my daughter is close with my parents and now with my mother-in-law.

Lisa at Tales from the Love Shaque

Bob Johns said...

Awesome tribute!! My grandparents meant the world to me as well :)