Lil' Thanksgiving and Grandparent Reflection

     Grandma: Less than five feet tall, her attitude and personality emits much stronger than her perfume ever will.  She is a diva…always has been and always will be. She will not leave the house without blue eye shadow, pink blush, lipstick, and a bow for her hair that she swears is still blonde. Her clothes and language are inappropriate at times, but who’s going to change that now? When my dad was in the Air Force, Grandma travelled to many of the places he lived. He is her only child, and they still talk at least once a week—around four o’clock every Sunday afternoon. Even though we are terribly different, until living here, I hadn’t realized how much of my life she has influenced. My husband says that now he understands more about my mannerisms and oddities than he ever did before.
     Grandpa: He is a very proud, stubborn man. He, typically, doesn’t like help; nevertheless, he has adored John in this time of us living here. I’ve never met a man who can pick a mango, avocado, or coconut the way Grandpa does. My husband thinks I may have inherited a little fruit and veg intuition; I hope he’s right. Grandpa is a Korean War vet, an ex-sheet metal worker (a job that cost him five of his fingers…three on one mano, two on the other), and the one thumb he has was very green at one time. For gardening, that is. Since we’ve lived here, he’s learned to appreciate the magic that is a smart phone. When he doesn’t know something, he asks if our phones can figure it out. Our favorite quote of Grandpa’s we frequently say is: “The future is now.” He says it in absolute seriousness, and it’s basically ridiculously hilarious.
     As we enter into a time of Thanksgiving tomorrow, we’re reminded not to take people or things for granted.  Our God tells us to “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). We believe we belong to Christ, so (even though they make it difficult sometimes) we are thankful for my grandparents. 

     One unusual day, Grandma, baby boy, and I were walking home from her eye doctor appointment because it went too long. John had no choice but to take the car to work. Grandma hadn't walked home from town in a long time, so it was quite an adventure. Baby boy was in the jogging stroller; I controlled it with my left hand while I steadied Grandma with my right. During the walk she said, "I have walked down this road hundreds of times...to school, to work, to go shopping; but now I can't. The road didn't change much, but I can't." She’s right. The road hasn’t changed much; she is the one that has changed. Even though she may not like it, its life, and it’s okay. She still has plenty of things to be thankful for!
     Unfortunately, in their daily lives, my grandparents don’t necessarily embrace an attitude of gratefulness. Even so, the one time I’ve ever witnessed them become potentially emotionally was last year on Thanksgiving. We sat at the dining room table (which NEVER happens), and we put all of the food in pretty bowls before eating. Grandma said that before we ate we needed to give thanks. John and I thought this meant a prayer, but no one closed their eyes, so we weren’t sure.
     Very quickly and a little awkwardly, they said they were thankful for John and Hollie being in Puerto Rico…

and I will never forget that.

God is doing crazy things in our lives again that leave us uncertain about where our journey in the near-future will take us. Despite the frustrations, challenges, and emotions that have come with living so closely to such unique and stubborn old folks, I will always be grateful for the time we have shared with them. If there is anything I have learned during this adventure, it’s that just like the road in Cabo Rojo…the road of our lives never changes. The difference is that we haven’t walked it yet, and each curve is a new turn that doesn’t allow us to see the other side until we get there. Praise God that He knows every path for every life, and, although no life is perfect or easy, He has “worked all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). When we know the maker of all things, it’s a little easier to be thankful for all circumstances.

Happy Thanksgiving.