Gratitude and Grandparents

Today is our celebration of grandparents and grandfriends at NGFS. This is a tradition that goes back a dozen years or so at the school; I guess fairly new as traditions go. I have come to see this as one of the most special days in our school calendar.

Why? There are many reasons.

Every year, on this day, our campuses are so full of joy and appreciation for each individual: students, staff, parents, volunteers and our cherished grandparents and grandfriends. This year we had over 100 grandfriends spend the morning with us.

In American culture, where we seem to separate elderly adults from children, we have lost much of what can be given from a lifetime of wisdom. This day at our school symbolizes the importance of each day being a day lived intergenerationally -when you blog you get to make up new words =). There is so much to be learned from our grandparents and grandfriends. There is so much rejuvenation to be given from our students.

Mostly, though, is the value simply of the relationship itself between grandchild and grandparent. There is no other relationship quite like this one throughout one's life. It is one based singularly on unconditional love, incredible joy on just time spent together, with very little reason for stress and tension to ever enter the relationship. Well maybe that is too utopian, but that's how I remember my grandparents and it is the hope I have for our current students as they get to live their relationships with their grandparents.

Thanks to our community, all the volunteers and the students who led worship and the teachers who created special schedules and to our grandfriends for an exceptional day!