HAPPY GRANDPARENT’S DAY!
This weekend we honor Grandparents. I only ever knew my two Grandmothers; my Grandfathers were dead or gone before I was born. There are so many affectionate titles for our Grandparents, mine were “Granny and Nana”; there’s also Grammy, Gangan, Abuelita, Gramps, Poppop, Grandpa, Abuelo, etc. It’s all about affection. Indeed that is really the role of the grandparent, to pour out affection on their grandchildren. Grandparents can be indulgent, perhaps, to a fault. This is also the reason why when a grandparent has to be a little disciplinary it can be somewhat shocking to the child… “Hey you used to be on my side!!”
Perhaps from the church’s point of view we should consider that the role of affection be honored; as the proverb says, “You catch more flies with honey than vinegar”. Grandparents are able, perhaps, to show the affectionate side of God’s love more readily than parents who also have to deal with the training and discipline, organization, education, etc. of the child too. That’s not to say that parents are not affectionate, but Grandparents, let’s face it, can get away with stuff parents can’t…we all know that…and it’s a good thing…though like all things “in moderation”. I think we can all agree that real affection is so nurturing and is so very much needed in today’s rough and tumble world.
I am away in UK in my role as Vicar General of the Josephites from Thursday 5th until Wed the 18th of September.
May God bless you, your families, and the week ahead,
Fr Aidan Peter