Strength and Honor: The Enduring Legacy of My Grandparents

My great-grandfather passed away from grief just one month after my great-grandmother's sudden death. At only three years old, my grandmother lost both of her parents. Her siblings stepped in to raise her, enduring extreme hardship and poverty. Despite their vulnerability, many people sought to exploit them. One such example is when my grandmother, as a young child, worked for a wealthy woman who deliberately starved her, giving her only a single slice of stale bread and a small cup of whey each day. Despite all this, my grandmother never became bitter or selfish. To this day, she still abhors hunger and helps numerous pensioners in need.

My grandfather endured a similarly tragic experience: he witnessed partisans murder his father solely because he was a prosperous Christian.

My maternal grandparents lost their homes, their parents, and even some of their siblings. Yet, despite the ineffable pain and suffering, they never gave up. My grandmother once told me that my grandfather carried construction materials for a house on his back, using only a bicycle.

I often think of these stories when I see a modern generation, especially young women, who expect their partners to be perfect and offer them wealth and luxury simply for existing. My grandmother, now nearly 90, still works. She says she’ll stop only when she passes on to another dimension. The entire family benefits from the fruits of her labor—her garden, which yields heavenly fruits and vegetables.

I’m proud of her. 🙂 That’s the kind of strength and resilience that lies dormant within each of us. Just imagine the transformation our world could undergo if we chose to ignite it every once in a while.

We should never tolerate disrespectful behavior, not only to protect our own dignity but also to honor all those who suffered for our sake long before we were even born.

Thank you for reading. I wish you a splendid Sunday.

(This picture is courtesy of Pixabay.) 👇🏻