Grampy was Irish, funny, kind-hearted, and open-minded. Grampa was Czech, quiet, a bit cold, resolute and traditional. I learned the most from Czech Grampa, even though Irish Grampy's warmth was the best thing for me as a child.
There was one lesson my Czech Grampa taught me, that never left me, and I will carry this lesson to my grave and beyond. And it's very simple, but the way he taught me, was the bigger lesson. It's this: "Michael, in the winter, always throw sand, salt or ice melt on the front stairs."
That's the lesson, here's the story: When I was about 4 or 5, my family and I were visiting Czech Grampa and Grandma in Northampton one cold winter day. Their house was lovely. A tidy and traditional place where we'd always go for Christmas and Thanksgiving and all the joyful holidays. When it was time to leave on that one cold winter day. I was the first out the door of the house, and I recall my Grampa saying several times- hold the railing Michael, the steps are slippery. Hold the railing the steps are very slippery with ice. So whether or not I held the railing, I don't recall- but I remember taking one step on those black icy steps, and my feet flying up from under me, and my hands scraping against the ice, and cement, and after a brief second of nothing, I balled my eyes out. I was hurt. The pain was bad, but what was worse was that Grampa blamed me for falling. He blamed me for not listening to him. He blamed me for everything that happened to me. And to make matters worse- he smacked me to get me to stop crying. Wow. I still remember that even 40 years on.
As I got older, I always remembered to throw sand or ice melt down in the winter- not so much on the sidewalk- but always, always on the steps. And I always remembered that episode of falling down the icy steps, and I always thought about it in a begrudging way, like, "How can an old man who didn't sand or salt his steps blame a young boy for slipping on them and crying?" How can the one who was at fault, blame the innocent young victim?
These thoughts about my Grampa may be true, but what's truer still is- I never forgot the lesson. He taught me something that I never forgot. Forget about HOW he taught me- but he taught me a valuable lesson. I'm reminded of it every Winter. And I thank my Grampa now for that lesson, as harsh as it was.
Now, each of us in life have had very bad things happen. Many things, straight out of the blue. And me may wonder- why God? Why me? And yes, we know God is love. But how can this world bring us so much pain and misery? Is there a lesson here? I believe there is. Even though I fell on the steps 40 years ago- I don't remember the pain or the hurt, or the humiliation. That is all over. It's been over for years! Yet, I can choose to hang on to the pain and the hurt and the humiliation- or I can let that go, and just remember the lesson. When I let go of my painful emotions, I can be grateful-- I will always be grateful for a well-maintained set of stairs and a clear sidewalk in the winter. I will always be thankful to that kind soul who shovelled and sanded so that none will slip. Thank you dear one. And I am grateful for a stubborn, traditional Grampa who taught me a valuable lesson. And I must add, my Grampa loved me- he liked to show me and my siblings love through his abundant gift-giving on Easter, Christmas and birthdays. Yet, the lesson was a tough one that I'll never forget.
Things will go wrong in this world- YES! But when things go right, always give thanks. Always be glad you've had bad times, so you know what good times look like! And you can bask in the glory of the good days that are with us and all around us. Even today.
To bring God into this a wee bit more- God is always trying to get us to know Him/Her as the loving parent. Always. There's not a day that goes by, where God is not showing him/herself to us. Everything we have is given to us by God. Everything. Know that when we look for solace in material things, God is getting shunned by us. Choose God and choose Life. God is jealous. Just as many of us are. God forgives, and does not hold a grudge. And know, God is teaching us lessons each day, even though we may not like the lesson, or have not signed up for the lesson. The lesson must be learned, and absorbed. And must never be forgotten.
Jeremiah 16:21 God says "Therefore, behold, I will this once cause them to know, I will cause them to know mine hand and my might; and they shall know that my name is The Lord."
Let us search out God in our good days, and in our bad days. And when the good days arrive, let's never forget the Lord our God and all the lessons He/She gives us to learn.
AMEN
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