The Waiting Walk

Today we celebrated Grandparents Day at my school. I wrote this to share with the grandparents who attended, but it was inspired by my own grandparents, and by the many other grandparent figures that I have been blessed to know and learn from.

To Our Grandparents:

What a gift that you are in our lives. 

You have the kind of wisdom that can only come from experiences lived.  The kind of insight that only comes from having watched and lived and learned.  May we absorb this gratefully.

The lessons learned when you were young have bloomed and grown and now you plant those seeds in each of us. May we now bloom strong and bright.

The joys you’ve lived you now share with us.  May our lives reflect that joy back to you.

The sorrows you’ve felt give us words when our road ahead looks bleak.  May we be a light to each other when life’s shadows come again.

The family and friendships you’ve formed provide a safe fortress in a cruel world.  May we add to the strength of this fortress, and extend safety to others around us who also need shelter from the storms.

You’ve asked your share of questions, you’ve seen your share of doubts.  And still here you are.  May we gain strength from your transparency in those moments where strength seems fleeting, and know that we too, can weather this storm.

You’ve also made your share of mistakes.  Had your regrets.  Wished for your do-overs.  And even here we learn from you.  May we see you with eyes of compassion, and may your hard-learned lessons be ours for the sharing.  Not everything must be learned by experience, after all!

You’ve prayed prayers.  Walked a journey with God that is completely unique to you.  May we look at the footprints left behind and know that God is here for us too. That we can trust Him.  That He is good.

You’ve pursued your future, and now entered the stage where you cheer us on as we pursue ours.  May we in turn cheer for others, and pass on that support you provided us.

And now, when life and career have slowed a bit while time keeps racing on, we honor you.  We celebrate the life you’ve lived, and we acknowledge the impact you’ve had on us. 

We are who we are because of your influence.

May we take all that you have taught us – the good and the bad, the joy and the pain – and invest it wisely. 

And someday, when we are in your shoes, we can only hope that those who come after us will say that their life is better because we were in it. 

But we will know – this was because of you.

So thank you. We honor your journey.  Your life.  Your legacy.

May God bless your future days abundantly. 

And may you feel peace and fulfillment in this heritage that you continue to build each day.