In praise of grandparents and their role in our lives

I never knew any of my four grandparents because they were all gone to their reward before I was born, and our own lads only knew two of theirs – but the lasting impression they have made on their lives makes me grateful for having them and at the same time regretful that I never knew my own.

The role that grandparents play in the lives of their grandchildren has never been bigger, both in the practical and pastoral sense.

And it’s only when you’re without them or never had them that you fully appreciate how lucky those blessed with three generations are.

The first words ours spoke were in the presence of their grandparents; the eldest took his first step in their presence – and in our absence – and the lasting legacy they have left manifests itself in so many ways.

Others who are now grandparents themselves see it as a way of perhaps doing the things they missed out on first time around – perhaps because keeping the show on the road took up all of the time, but now that you’re retired there’s more time to spend with the next generation.

And we all know that it’s time, not presents, that they want most of all – reading stories, singing songs, watching their videos, listening to their little stories.

That’s where grandparents are God’s gift; slowing down to smell the roses, imparting little gems of wisdom, putting plasters on scraped knees, buying ice cream on little trips to the shop.

But from the parents’ point of view, there is also a very practical consequence; someone to step into the breech if you’re out to work or just out for the night. Someone as familiar to them as you are, in whom you have complete faith and trust.

That’s why it’s entirely fitting that we now have World Day for Grandparents and Elderly, celebrated across the globe on the fourth Sunday of July each year – which is obviously this Sunday.

That can manifest in many ways – from a little family gathering to honour the senior members to the Catholic Grandparents Association here which holds an annual National Grandparents Pilgrimage at Knock Shrine.