Newspaper Page Text
Thursday, June 15, 2000
The Southern Cross, Page 5
Everyday Graces
Father's Day brings hack memories of granddad
G rowing up, I was blessed to live near my
grandparents. My mother’s mother,
widow, lived in the house behind ours.
My father’s parents lived on our street,
in the next block. Not only was I
blessed to have my grandparents near,
I was also blessed to spend a lot of
time visiting them in their homes.
Some of my most vivid childhood
memories revolve around those visits
with my grandparents. When I was con
templating an idea for a Father’s Day
column, thoughts of my grandfather first came
to mind. One particular ritual we shared when I
was around 6 years old stands out clearly. When
I was ready to go home after staying for supper
at my grandparents’ home, if it was past dark,
my grandfather would walk me to the comer of
the block. When we reached the comer, he
would stand waiting, as I dashed the rest of the
way home through the darkness. The distance I
traveled alone was only half a block, but I would
run as fast as I could and when I reached my
front door, I’d catch my breath then yell: ‘Good
night, Grandaddy!’ That was his signal I had
arrived safely, and he could return home.
This little ritual my grandfather and I shared
has existed in my memory for decades. And it
occurred to me only now that I remember it so
clearly because it was symbolic of my relation
ship with my grandfather. When he would take
my hand in his large one—he was a tall, strong
man—and we headed down the street, illu
minated by a single street light and the
porch lights of neighbors’ houses, I
felt completely secure in his pres
ence. Yet when we reached the
comer, where Grandaddy and I
parted, I ran home as fast as I
could, imagining something wild
and shadowy was chasing me or
expecting at any moment the bogey
man to leap from the bushes. But I
always knew Grandaddy was stand
ing on the comer listening. I needed only to call
for help and he’d be there in moments to rescue
me. And each evening, I would end our ritual by
triumphantly hollering ‘Good night!’
Of course, my grandfather could easily have
walked me all the way home. It occurs to me
now that Grandaddy must have known it was
good for me to make that last part of the journey
alone. In the security of his watchful presence, I
was allowed a taste of independence, a chance to
dash safely through the scary dark.
Such is the unique relationship that exists
between fathers and their children and grandfa
thers and their grandchildren, as my childhood
memory illustrates. While mothers and grand
mothers are usually the nurturers, the ones who
make sure children are bundled up, tucked in,
well-nourished, fathers and grandfathers encour
age risk taking, summon courage, test abilities.
Contrary to popular opinion, men do not neces
sarily dominate, exert control. In fact, loving
fathers actually empower their children, perhaps
especially their daughters, by encouraging inde
pendence, a love for adventure.
Had my grandmother walked me home, she
would have made certain I was escorted safely
to my door. There would be no running through
the dark. But my grandfather’s way, while less
cautious, was wiser in the end. Though ensuring
my safety, he allowed me the sweet taste of
independence, the satisfaction of conquering my
fears.
At times, when caring for our children, my
husband hasn’t followed precautions that meet
my standards. Although not negligent, he is defi
nitely more relaxed than I am about the chil
dren’s well-being. Yet in his more liberal care,
the children have never been endangered;
indeed, they have discovered new capabilities,
enjoyed small adventures, felt the shivers that
come from doing something a little risky. Just as
I was running through the dark while my grand
father kept vigil on the street comer—and as we
all are with our heavenly Father—in their
father’s care, my children taste the joy of inde
pendence, yet trust a strong and loving presence
to be ever near.
Mary Hood Hart lives with her husband
and four children in Sunset Beach, N.C.
Mary Hood Hart
Letters
601 E. Liberty St.
Savannah, GA 31401-5196
Bishop J. Kevin Boland received
the following letter from Mon
signor R. George Sarauskas of the
Office to Aid the Catholic Church
in Central and Eastern Europe,
regarding the 1999 collection:
Dear Bishop Boland,
I wish to express my profound
thanks to you and the Diocese of
Savannah for the recent gift of
$36,215.00 to help rebuild the
Catholic Church in Central and
Eastern Europe.
As you well know, the fall of
totalitarianism in Central and
Eastern Europe left a vacuum in
society there, a vacuum in which
even the Church has sometimes
been forced to compete with
materialism and consumerism for
the hearts and souls of the people.
The Church has relied on her
faithful, who have been most gen
erous, for help. Important progress
has indeed been made, especially
in the areas of priestly and reli
gious formation, religious com
munication and evangelization,
catechesis and social ministry.
Much has been done already,
but there is so much more yet to
do. We are most grateful for the
support both you and the Diocese
of Savannah have given to these
efforts. Your prayers and your
generous participation in the
annual collection for Central and
Eastern Europe are deeply appre
ciated; they renew our confidence
that the power of the Holy Spirit
will bring the light of faith into
the hearts of all God’s people.
Msgr. R. George Sarauskas
National Director
Another reader responds
Dear Editor:
I commend Father Michael H.
Smith for his letter (May 18) in
which he challenges us, who have
been “fattened” for generations
with the blessings of Catholic
schools, to make the blessing of
Catholic schools more available to
Lazarus at the gate, to those more
in need, such as recent Hispanic
immigrants. I also think of Saint
Peter Claver School here in
Macon which receives many
needy children fro; single-parent
families from its immediate neigh
borhood.
Catholic children and Catholic
parents can be a leaven of Chris
tian values in the public school
system. Of course, there are alrea
dy many good Christian students,
parents, teachers, and staff in pub
lic schools, as I have observed in
more than nine years teaching
there. Christians and good people
are a majority in public schools,
not a minority.
Still, Catholic children and Ca
tholic parents who are well-found
ed in their faith are needed in pub
lic schools to join with the many
good Christians already there to
help make our public schools even
stronger in Christian values, and
to “evangelize” (at least indirect
ly) the un-Christian elements in
the public school system.
Catholics in public schools
should, of course, continue their
Catholic education through their
parish religious education pro
grams at all levels: elementary,
teen years, college years (in the
local Newman Club, Catholic stu
dent center, or local parish) and
adult education. Some, including
recent Hispanic immigrants, chil-
FAX: (912) 238-2339
E-mail: DClark5735@aol.com
dren from broken homes, and
many others need the protected
environment and special blessings
of our wonderful Catholic schools,
while other families who are solid
in their Catholic faith might want
to go, fortified with the grace of
God as a leaven of Christ in the
public school system, to help
change the system for the better.
David B. Conner
Macon
Adoption
Dear Editor:
I read Mrs. Hart's article on
adoption. To adopt a child is one
of the most positive steps a pro
lifer can take, however not every
one is called to this. But there is
something that all pro-lifers can
do and it is super easy. Ask your
postmaster for the adoption stamp.
It is a pretty stamp with a positive
pro-life message. It cost no more
than any other stamp, but the ben
efits are great. You may consider
asking your parish office to also
use the stamp.
Donna Hunt
Warner Robins