WE’RE GRANDPARENTS; DO WASHING DISHES MAKE US LOW?

By: Norberto Betita

It is common in many families that grandparents are to be assisted by children and grandchildren rather than for the elderly to serve them. I am a grandfather and I wash dishes in favour of my grandchildren. Does it made me low? Of course not! Washing dishes is a noble assignment for everybody in the home. Does it matter if the one who does such a house chore is an old grandmother? It does not matter either. It is an even grander and most noble duty for grandparents old as they may be to serve their children and grandchildren while their physical body allows. As in the Chinese proverb: “The old are the precious gem in the center of the household.” As grandparents we may have increasing lines and crinkles in our faces, yet our hearts are never wrinkled. The attributes of kindness, unbounded love, joy of service, faith to endure, and cheerfulness makes ever young our hearts. Ecstatic joy fills our hearts as another grandchild is born, especially when we are told that the child’s countenance reflects our own.

When we are newly married and our children are young we are called by such humble address as father and mother, probably because it is our primary responsibility to care for our children. We also just ordinarily called them son or daughter. When we get a little older and our children are married and have their own children, there is added the adjective ‘grand’ to the word father and so the old man became a grandfather and the old woman grandmother or the two as grandparents. The ordinary calling therefore of the father or mother are magnified by the adjective grand which means among others being outstanding, magnificent, far-reaching, impressive, fantastic, etc., etc. So it is with our children’s children, which we call grandchildren. They are grand because they are part of our outstanding and majestic accomplishment. It has been said that "Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children."

The call of grandparents then requires a luxurious part in their hearts for their grandchildren. So that when they call “grandpa will you please help me with my homework”; “will you please edit my campaign speech for our student government”; “ will you please translate these tagalog words to English”; “can I have one of your plants submitted for my project at school”; “grandma can you wash the dishes, I might be late for school”; the hands of the grandfather and grandmother are ever extended and heart always open as to say, “yes my dear grandchild let me do it for you; I love you.” For these reasons the grandparents are at times misunderstood as being spoilers. However, "Grandparents, like heroes, are as necessary to a child's growth as vitamins." (Joyce Allston).

It is true, we wake up early in the morning to cook food, prepare breakfast and wash the dishes for our grandchildren. We feel it a privilege to be able to show our love for them through our simple acts of service while we are still able. In this way our relationship becomes even strengthened and intensified not only with our grandchildren but their parents as well who are our children. However, these are not permanent things that we do. These and other responsibilities remained to be the principal accountability of the parents. Ours are only piddling extensions when parents are too busy caring for the foremost needs of the family.

In the absence of parents, we conduct family home evenings, family scripture study and family prayers with them. This way we are able to share our feelings, experiences, testimonies, love and faith about the importance of the Gospel in their lives. Geoff Dench was quoted as saying: "Grandparents should play the same role in the family as an elder statesman can in the government of a country. They have the experience and knowledge that comes from surviving a great many years of life's battles and the wisdom, hopefully, to recognise how their grandchildren can benefit from this." Our personal stories of obedience; testimony of the gospel; learning and overcoming mistakes; love for each other; our desires to create a forever family and to reach that goal, can have lasting effects in their lives. I used to write my personal history; about my relationship and everlasting love for my wife, their grandmother; stories of our children and grandchildren; my personal experiences about obedience and many others for our grandchildren to read and have some uplift as they move forward in their mortal journey and for our coming generations. 

The Apostle Paul acknowledged in “remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in [Timothy], which dwelt first in [his] grandmother Lois, and [his] mother Eunice…” then he continued, “and I am persuaded that in thee also.” (2 Timothy 1:5). Likewise, my wife and I are confident that as we continue to share our time assisting in the nurturing of our grandchildren they will one day find the road to righteous adult life.

I am counting the days when my grandchildren will be married and have children of their own, and they would add an even superior adjective ‘great’ to my patriarchal calling. I hope God will add a score to my age that I may have the privilege to hear my posterity utter such an eminent, noble, and exalted words GREAT-GRANDFATHER and GREAT-GRANDMOTHER for my wife with the same opportunity for me to call them GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN. Will it make a difference then if my great-grandchild requests: “Great-grandpa will you please wash the dishes for me?” Yes, it would be such a great privilege!