91热爆

Good morning.

I recently happened upon a picture of a 4 or 5 year old me, with my paternal grandma 鈥� Ada.
It reminded me again just how very important grandparents 鈥� real or 鈥榓dopted鈥� 鈥� really are.
I remember a conversation with an Albanian scholar who was clear that a key factor in the 鈥榬eChristianizing鈥� of his homeland, following the years of the 鈥楶eople鈥檚 Republic鈥�, were grandparents. They kept Christian memory alive, sometimes in times of intimidation, they said prayers and sang hymns with grandchildren. They bore witness to their grown children about a Christian life and outlook very different to that prevailing at the time.

Or come closer to home. I came across a 鈥榤ums 鈥榥 tots鈥� group. It consisted of mums and tots, but also some grannies with grandchildren. One was doing what so many grandparents do nowadays, caring for their grandchildren while their children work. Another was going through a distressing process of becoming the official 鈥榝oster parent鈥� of her own grandchild, and she talked painfully about her daughter 鈥渂eing away and being unwell鈥�.

Or finally, the small village chapel where the retired members of the midweek women鈥檚 meeting - started an after-school club. They love it, the parents love it, and the local school loves it. One member commented, 鈥榳e decided that every child deserved at least a group of grandma鈥檚!鈥�

Lord today we give thanks for those grandparents who in hard times hold the world together and keep the Christian story alive. Who galvanise families, and stand in the breech in times of need; who give so much to our communities and neighbourhoods. Amen.