24/04/2015

Good morning.

I recently happened upon a picture of a 4 or 5 year old me, with my paternal grandma – Ada.
It reminded me again just how very important grandparents – real or ‘adopted’ – really are.
I remember a conversation with an Albanian scholar who was clear that a key factor in the ‘reChristianizing’ of his homeland, following the years of the ‘People’s Republic’, were grandparents. They kept Christian memory alive, sometimes in times of intimidation, they said prayers and sang hymns with grandchildren. They bore witness to their grown children about a Christian life and outlook very different to that prevailing at the time.

Or come closer to home. I came across a ‘mums ‘n tots’ group. It consisted of mums and tots, but also some grannies with grandchildren. One was doing what so many grandparents do nowadays, caring for their grandchildren while their children work. Another was going through a distressing process of becoming the official ‘foster parent’ of her own grandchild, and she talked painfully about her daughter “being away and being unwell”.

Or finally, the small village chapel where the retired members of the midweek women’s meeting - started an after-school club. They love it, the parents love it, and the local school loves it. One member commented, ‘we decided that every child deserved at least a group of grandma’s!’

Lord today we give thanks for those grandparents who in hard times hold the world together and keep the Christian story alive. Who galvanise families, and stand in the breech in times of need; who give so much to our communities and neighbourhoods. Amen.