听 听 听 听 听 听 鈥淥ne of the most powerful handclasps is that of a new grandbaby around the finger of a grandfather,鈥� Joy Hargrove.
听听听听听听听听听听听 I could not believe the strength of my new grandson as he clasped my finger this August. I had just asked my sister to reach out from heaven and help little Samuel settle down. He did, and for a moment I felt my sister was sharing a 鈥渢hank you鈥� clasp.
听听听听听听听听听听听 Recently I had to leave the warmth of my bed to jot down some inspiration about grandparents. I mused on the essential message my Grandfather Rolheiser brought over from ?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /Russia. To me it was communicated in silence and strength, just as my grandmother鈥檚 message was of tenderness and love.
听听听听听听听听听听听 The key to the culture and values of my grandparents was in the Christian Faith they passed on in prayer, song and traditions. This was the message I was compelled to write: Don鈥檛 silence your grandparents!
听听听听听听听听听听听 It struck me that for many today the music, entertainment, work and busy lifestyles leave no time for the quiet strength which was the faith of our fathers. Sunday morning was church time, summer and winter, seeding and harvesting. The Lord鈥檚 day was sacred. Chicken noodle soup after Mass was a tradition, and favourite uncles would drop by for supper. I always said my mother was a great evangelist.
听听听听听听听听听听听 Be on your guard! Let your children hear their grandparents鈥� messages. Let them live the faith of their elders. Don鈥檛 drop the ball. Make the time to honour the traditions of the elders.
听听听听听听听听听听听 In an audience with Pope Francis this September Leona and Rudy Gonzales shared the love and respect they have for their elders. Among the indigenous peoples grandfather is an exalted term. Prayers are often begun with 鈥淕randfather鈥�, a term synonymous with Chief, Blessed, Hallowed and Supreme.
听听听听听听听听听听听 People who seek Grandfather鈥檚 wisdom learn to live in harmony with all people who live on Mother Earth. Respect of Grandparents is a first step towards guiding family members towards the love of God.
听听听听听听听听听听听 The Anishinaabe in Ontario share the Teachings of the Seven Grandfathers, captured in Edward Benton-Banai's book The Mishomis Book:
听听听听听听听听听听听 Wisdom:To cherish knowledge is to know Wisdom. Wisdom is given by the Creator to be used for the good of the people.
听听听听听听听听听听听 Love:To know peace is to know Love. Love must be unconditional. When people are weak they need love the most.
听听听听听听听听听听听 Respect: To honour all creation is to have Respect. All of creation should be treated with respect. You must give respect if you wish to be respected.
听听听听听听听听听听听 Bravery is to face the foe with integrity, to have a fearless heart even when the consequences are unpleasant.
听听听听听听听听听听听 Honesty in facing a situation is to be brave. Be honest first with yourself, and you will more easily be able to be honest with others.
听听听听听听听听听听听 Humility is to know yourself as a sacred part of Creation. In the Anishinaabe language this word can also mean "compassion." You are equal to others, but you are not better.
听听听听听听听听听听听 Truthis to know all of these things. Speak the truth. Do not deceive yourself or others.
听听听听听听听听听听听 I conclude with an excerpt from 鈥淕randfather Great Spirit鈥�:
听Grandfather Great Spirit
Fill us with the light.
Give us the strength to understand,
And the eyes to see.
Teach us to walk the soft Earth
As relatives to all that live.
