A few months before her college graduation, my daughter called home to discuss the plans for the ceremony and asked, “Are grandma and grandpa going to make it to my graduation?”
Privately, I wondered the same thing as I knew it would be a long trip back for them to attend her graduation ceremony so I just told her, “They said they’d try to make it.” No dad wants to overpromise.
Graduation day arrived and we made our way into the college gymnasium, found a seat up in the bleachers, and waited for the ceremony to start.
Eventually, a sea of black caps and gowns processed into the gymnasium. About halfway through the procession, we saw our daughter. She saw us too and smiled. She knew we would be there. She took a couple more steps intently scanning the audience. Her smile gradually became a concerned look. I knew who she was looking for. Again, she scanned the audience, so intently that she slowed her pace. A gap developed between her and the person in front of her. I started to grow concerned that she would disrupt the procession if she didn’t catch up, but there wasn’t anything I could do.

Then she saw them. Grandma and grandpa, right there on those bleachers watching her on her big day! Now her face really lit up. I swear she floated out of her heels and began to glide up that center aisle. She was proud of herself for graduating, but now she knew that her graduation was truly a significant accomplishment because grandma and grandpa were there validating everything she had done to get to this point.
I think you already know what my daughter’s grandparents knew. Being physically present for our children and grandchildren is a type of currency more valuable than money. With it, you give and acquire love, common identity, and emotional security.
Grandparents, do you know when the next occasion is where you will mint significant currency by your physical presence? I know there are times when we don’t want to go or times when we think we are not valued by our children and grandchildren. Go anyway. Be physically present. My daughter will always remember how her grandparents made her feel on her graduation day, especially now that they are gone.
Doug and Connie Sterbenz live in Topeka, Kansas and they currently have 5 grandchildren.
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