By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
Word in Black
Modern grandparents seem to customize their titles, not preferring the “grandma” and “grandpa” of the past. Some want to be called “Glamma,” “Nanee,” or “Pop” or even by their first names — which makes sense since most look nothing like the grandparents of previous decades.
Grandparents make indelible contributions to society, including helping to raise and educate the younger generations. (Photo courtesy Unsplash/ Humphrey Muleba)
But no matter what they’re called, their influence remains strong. And this year, churches and community groups are stepping up to celebrate their contributions. So as Grandparents Day approaches on Sept. 8, faith communities nationwide are finding creative ways to honor the elders who play a pivotal role in family life.
The day “is an appreciation acknowledgement for grandparents who are caregivers. Not to mention, share wisdom, love, and family history with members of the family and friends,” according to the website of the 107-year-old Pilgrim Baptist Church in Omaha, Nebraska.
Just as the age and appearance of grandparents has gotten increasingly younger, the role of grandparents has changed so much in the last few decades too.
“I look at the adults who were children when I came having their own children, the cycle of life coming full circle,” says Rev. Stephen Russell, pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in northwest Baltimore.
His congregation has a substantial number of seniors, like most congregations these days.
And over the 18 years he’s spent as pastor there, Russell has seen “the integral role grandparents continue to play in the family.”
He referenced Paul’s advice to his young mentee in the familiar text in II Timothy 1:5.
“Paul told Timothy to hold onto the faith given to him, first, by his grandmother and then his mother, Lois. They have a unique position, parenting in both generations,” Russell says. “Paul was letting Timothy know the importance of that guidance. It’s just great to give special space and salutation to our grandparents.”
The History of Grandparents Day
National Grandparents Day was officially enacted by President Jimmy Carter in 1978, although its roots began in 1969, when 9-year-old Russell Capper decided to write a letter to President Richard Nixon. Capper suggested a special day be set aside to honor his and all other grandparents in this country. He received a response from Nixon’s secretary that the president couldn’t declare such a day, but could only act on a congressional resolution authorizing him to do so.
Almost a decade later, Congress finally acted, and President Carter signed a proclamation declaring National Grandparents Day on the first Sunday after Labor Day each year.
The Catholic Church actually celebrated World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly on July 28, the Sunday nearest the feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, Jesus’ grandparents. Pope Francis, who declared the first of these days in 2021, chose a line from Psalm 71 as the theme for this year: Do not cast me off in my old age.
“By cherishing the charisms of grandparents and the elderly, and the contribution they make to the life of the Church, the World Day seeks to support the efforts of every ecclesial community to forge bonds between the generations and to combat loneliness,” the Pope said in a statement.
A Blessing From God
“Grandparents are a blessing from God,” says the Rev. Lorraine Heigh, who will be the guest preacher on Sept. 8, when residents of Resorts of Augsburg — a nursing and assisted living facility in Lochearn, Maryland — will be honored with citations signed by Adrienne Jones, the first Black and first woman speaker of the Maryland General Assembly.
“They play a pivotal role as the foundation of family passing down cultural values and instilling valuable lessons in life with love and compassion to enrich the lives of their grandchildren,” Heigh says.
The event was planned and is being carried out by Augsburg’s chaplain, Eric T. Campbell, who is determined that the “resident grandparents not just know they are not forgotten, but realize how much they are appreciated by their families and by the Augsburg family.”
And in “recognition of their incredible contributions…and profound impact,” Calvary’s grandparents will receive citations from the members of Baltimore’s City Council, signed by Sharon Middleton, the church’s designated representative.
A Global Day of Prayer
The significance of Grandparents Day goes beyond individual congregations, though. The Christian Grandparenting Network designates the September observance as a global Grandparents’ Day of Prayer. The network emphasizes the need for spiritual guidance in an increasingly complex world.
“We recognize the desperate moral and spiritual climate our grandchildren must navigate in a world hostile to truth,” according to their website. Perhaps at no other time in human history is a call to prayer more urgently required than it is today.”
So whether through prayer, celebration, or simple recognition, faith communities are united in their appreciation of grandparents. Their lived experience, wisdom, and unwavering support are not just vital to their families but also foundational to the strength and growth of the community.
This article was originally published on WordinBlack.com.
