For as long as I can remember I have enjoyed the company of elders. As a child I loved pottering at my grandparents’ house after school, and as I grew into my teen years my Gran became my best friend. Through our friendship, I learnt that how we spend our days is how we spend our lives.
Whether we were at home having a cup of coffee and a piece of cake or pottering round to the local parade of shops, the time I spent with my Gran I count among my most precious, and our simple, everyday quality time together has certainly inspired and shaped what I do today, working alongside people living with dementia, carers, and people in their later years.
Gran was never one for the limelight, quietly supporting others from the sidelines. She was a committed letter writer, prayer warrior, phone friend, and encourager. And year after year, Gran would continue to remember others before herself. She had a quiet, firm faith that persisted and persevered, even during the most challenging chapters of her life.
I am delighted to be joining the Anna Chaplaincy team at Time to Talk Befriending, and as I do, I’m reminded of Gran. I wonder what she would say about it, but mostly I wonder how I might follow in her footsteps, prayers, and truly cultivate a commitment to seeing others flourish during their later years.
