- my iParenting
From Our Sponsors
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Restoring Faith
By J. Gantzer
My grandparents are both 82 years old and to me are the greatest grandparents because they are my heroes and role models. They have taught my family and I how to live a selfless life and how to honor God and put others first.
One day my grandpa found a large amount of money in McCloys hardware store. He got the name of a man who had reported losing some money. When my grandpa returned the money, the owner tried to give him a reward; however, my grandpa replied that he needed no reward. The owner of the money wrote to the newspaper and told them that his faith in human honesty was restored. In this day and age where money is everything to so many people, it made me feel honored and proud to call this man my grandpa.
My grandparents are also the greatest because they love their children and grandchildren with no strings attached. No matter what mistakes we make in life, my grandparents never hold them against us – they forgive and forget. My grandparents are full of wisdom and share it with you when you ask for it but never lecture at you. They never say, "I told you so."
They are my role models, because I learn by their actions not only their words. Many people don't practice what they preach but my grandparents do. My grandparents have always been about taking care of others. A few ways they have done this are: they took care of the lady next door when she had no family, my grandpa has driven people around who can't drive, and my grandma each month writes to over 40 shut-ins and sends them a note to say she is praying for them and that she is thinking about them. She also includes a booklet full of daily devotionals called "Our Daily Bread."
They have always been involved in church from helping found a church to teaching Sunday school and working anywhere and everywhere there is a need. To this day they are still both very involved. Due to her health, my grandma is unable to attend the services but she doesn't let that stop her from helping. My grandpa attends several times a week and is always doing something. It is from them that I have grown to love God so much and understand what it really means to live a life of service pleasing to God. My grandparents have lived their whole lives putting others before themselves.
If I had to pick my greatest mentors, greatest role models, best friends and someone I strive to be as I grow as a person, parent and wife, I would have to say that my grandparents are the people who fit into all of these areas. I believe that my grandparents are the greatest and deserve this because they are people that everyone can look up to.