“Do to others as you would have them do to you." ~ Luke
6:31
Alex and his grandmother shared a
unique bond; they were perhaps best friends.
He’d turn to Gram when needing advice, when depressed, or when he was at
odds with his parents. Gram always offered
the best solutions!
As early as he could remember, Gram narrated bed-time
stories of her own childhood. She became
a female Tom Sawyer. Her tales sent Alex
to a magical world, where everyone was a Winnie the Pooh, a Simba, or a Cinderella
- where everything ended happily.
Still today, he’d spend hours with her, listening to Gram’s life
stories. She’d been a dancer, and had
even taught Alex some popular dances from decades past - the Jitterbug, Hand
Jive, Twist, and later the Hustle, Macarena and even Beyoncé’s Single Ladies
Dance.
Gram soaked in the rhythm of any music; echoing fond girlish
memories. With his Senior Prom drawing
near, Alex asked about Gram’s own Prom experience.
“I dreamed about it a lot … what I’d wear, how I’d fix my
hair, what kind of corsage my date would bring me, how I’d dance,” she began. “I was so excited, the first time I’d ever
had a reason to get all fancied-up.”
“But I never went … your Grampa
didn’t like to dance,” she sighed. “I
thought about going with friends who didn’t have dates, but back then it seemed
too embarrassing.”
With Alex’s big night approaching,
Gram’s excitement swelled for him. She
watched him save money for months so that he could afford a tuxedo and even a
limousine. Gram couldn’t wait to see who
he’d be taking to the dance.
But to her surprise, he told her
that he’d be taking her to prom. “Every
woman deserves to go to prom, no matter if they’re 18 or 68.”
The story’s fictitious – the
sentiments are real. No matter the age, we
all need love as much as food, water and air.
They nourished each other.
Alex understood what modern
culture tends to doubt – the value of older Americans’ skills and
experiences. They’ve lived through horrific
situations - like epidemics, aging, crushing poverty, and world wars. Their unique perspective offers a valuable
lens through which younger people can interpret their own lives.
Alex also had wisdom to share.
He jumped at any opportunity to
have fun and be silly. Gram learned again how to enjoy herself and make the
most of every minute; that it’s okay to relax and play every now and then. And young people tend to be more socially tolerant
and open-minded.
Regardless of age, we can all
learn from one another. Whether planting
seeds with your niece or visiting seniors in your community. Have the Talk
of a Lifetime, you’ll walk away with a better understanding of the world
around you.
Lord Almighty, Your love enfolds us
all. Thank You for all the seasons of
life. Open our eyes that we may see the
unique gift of each person’s life, created out of Your love. Amen
