Tribute to Grandparents – Especially Grandma (Aunt Annie)
I grew up in the countryside, a small village where everyone knows you based on your father or grandparents. They would ask if they see you in the street, “you look like Misa Manhertz pickeny?” My family and I lived with my grandparents for 2 years when I was about 8 years old before we built our own home. There were three generations living in one house, you may say, “that must have been tight, right.” But those years were the most rich and I learnt many life lessons. My grandparents owned a farm, they grew vegetables and they had a lot of land with fruit trees.
What was inspirational to me was how hard working and persevering my grandmother was. I remember how she would awake around ⅘ on market mornings to make breakfast then head out to the farm either to tend or to reap the crop, there were times when we would be required to help, (I did not like this). Then head out to market to sell. On mornings that she did not go to market she would help me get ready for school, I was the only girl surrounded by all male cousins so the natural tendency was to be just like them. She would tell me how important it is to be graceful, keep your shoes and school uniform clean, make sure your hair remains neat and always sit like a lady. Then she would end with, “walk good.” This means, I have given my counsel or instruction, it is expected that you follow.
What I loved most about my grandmother is that she was kind, pleasant and caring. She cooked a lot of food, much more than was needed for the family, when asked why, she would say, “you need to have extra just incase someone pass by who is hungry” and this would happen often, people would come by and ask. “Miss Annie you have nuttin deh?” She would also make care packages for the neighbours that were sick or had a new baby. I remember her requesting often that I deliver the packages, unsure at the time why she did this but I now understand that in those days kindness goes a long way especially when you require assistance in emergency situations. The legend of kindness shown by my grandmother to neighbors transferred as kindness shown to my parent and then to me.
These memories are instilled in me based on my Grandmother’s portrayal of kindness, generosity, showing compassion, being hardworking and encouraging to others. She emulated Christ, she was the foundation, first Adventist in my family. Today’s talk is dedicated to grandparents who have lived their lives as examples to their children and grandchildren, demonstrating Christ-like characteristics that can then be pass down to our children.
The verse that comes to mind when I wrote this story, “Train up children in the way they should go and when they are old they will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6
Youth Struggles 