In 1970, Marian McQuade, a West Virginia woman who advocated for the elderly, initiated a campaign to establish a day to honor grandparents.
Her home state became the first state to enact such a day in 1973. In September 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed a bill designating the Sunday after Labor Day as National Grandparents Day beginning in 1979.
The proclamation read in part,
“The elders of each family have the responsibility for setting the moral tone for the family and for passing on the traditional values of our Nation to their children and grandchildren. They bore the hardships and made the sacrifices that produced much of the progress and comfort we enjoy today. It is appropriate, therefore, that as individuals and as a nation, that we salute our grandparents for their contribution to our lives.”
In case you missed it, here’s how TAB Media Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Davis Rash’s reflected on the significance of Grandparents Day in 2020:
Grandparents, we celebrate you this month, especially the tremendous role you play in the lives of your grandchildren.
Take time
And for the grandchildren out there, be sure to take a little time with your grandparents at least monthly, if not weekly.
The best gift you could give them for Grandparents Day is a phone call or visit where you focus on a real conversation.
Share what’s happening with you — what’s going well and where you are struggling — and let them share their memories.
You may hear some of the same stories over and over, but I promise those are the ones you will always treasure and may end up telling your own children and grandchildren one day.
For the grandparents, you have a lifetime of lessons to share and have been given a tremendous opportunity to speak wisdom into the lives of these precious ones you also get to spoil.
For those without grandchildren, there are plenty of kiddos who could use someone with spiritual maturity to pour into their lives. Pray for God to make your heart sensitive to those who need a grandparent.
And for the grandparents raising their grandchildren, know we realize your situation moves to an entirely different level.
I can’t begin to understand the complexity of what that means for you, but I do know it takes you to hero status. Be willing to share with your support system how they can pray and help.
Appreciation and recognition
The appreciation and recognition for being a grandparent — however that is defined in your family — may not always be apparent, but be assured your legacy will outlive you.
You may not always understand all the lingo swirling around with the grandkids, and their decisions may definitely concern you. But don’t give up.
Pray diligently for each grandchild by name and situation, and pray for God to show you what to share and when to share it — and exactly how to best invest in and love each child.
TAB Media is grateful for the influence of grandparents and others in our lives. Happy Grandparents Day from all of us to all of you!
Looking for activities to celebrate today? Click here and here for ideas.
