Remember September 11th is Grandparents Day-

In the shadow of a national tragedy, another meaningful commemoration often goes unnoticed. September 11th is also Grandparents Day—a perfect opportunity to redirect our focus toward celebrating those who helped shape our lives and values.

The Legacy of Love

Now that I am a grandparent, memories of my own grandparents surface with renewed clarity—how they generously shared their wit, wisdom, pleasure, and love, weaving themselves into the fabric of who I’ve become.

From my grandfather, I witnessed a masterclass in devotion. He taught me how a man shows deep love for his woman through consistent, genuine appreciation. Words of praise about my grandmother flowed from him daily, creating an atmosphere where love was both spoken and felt.

To this day, I’ve encountered few who express admiration with such natural abundance. Sometimes, all my grandmother needed to do was enter a room. His face would illuminate instantly, eyes tracking her movement with undisguised adoration as he proclaimed, “There she is!”

Three small words loaded with love.

The simplicity of this gesture carried profound meaning. In those moments, he acknowledged not just her physical presence but her essential place in his world. Without complexity or grand gestures, he demonstrated how love resides in noticing—truly seeing the person before you.

Healing Through Remembrance

On this Grandparents Day, September 11, I invite you to find and express gratitude for the four (or more!) people who planted seeds of character, resilience, and wisdom within you. Their fingerprints remain on your heart, sometimes visible only when you become the age they were in your earliest memories of them.

Perhaps your grandparents taught you how to bake perfect biscuits, fostered your curiosity about the natural world, or simply created a haven of unconditional acceptance. Maybe they survived hardships that gave you perspective on your own challenges, or shared stories that connected you to your heritage and history.

Even difficult relationships with grandparents offer valuable lessons—teaching us what we don’t want to replicate or helping us develop the strength to forge our own paths.

A Healing Practice

You could commemorate this day by writing a “Thank You Letter” to your grandparents. Fill it with specific gratitude for their influence—the skills they taught, the values they modeled, or simply the safe space they created in your life. Share a story about how their influence manifests in your daily existence.

Whether your beloved ancestors have crossed over or remain present in your life, this expression of gratitude brings healing to your entire family lineage. The act of acknowledgment creates ripples that extend backward and forward through generations.

If you never knew your biological grandparents, consider writing to other elders who filled that role—mentors, neighbors, or community figures who offered guidance when you needed it most.

Transforming Grief Through Gratitude

While September 11th will always carry the weight of collective grief, incorporating this celebration of family heritage offers a parallel path—one where loss and continuity exist side by side. By honoring those who came before us, we affirm that love persists beyond tragedy, that connection outlasts destruction.

Writing helps and heals. Through the simple act of putting pen to paper, we process emotions, preserve memories, and sometimes discover unexpected wisdom within ourselves—wisdom our grandparents might recognize as their own gift, returned with interest.

What three words might your grandparents have said that carried the weight of their love? What three words might you share that express your gratitude for their presence in your story?