A Most Precious Family Heirloom

--by wayfarer, posted Jul 14, 2009

I was at my in-law's house with my wife Julie and the kids. Julie's sister Jacquie was there with her children, so it was a real house full and I suppose it was difficult to keep an eye on everybody.

Josh, who must have been about eight at the time went into the kitchen to get something. A few minutes later we heard a crash. He had knocked his Gran's crystal fruit bowl over. We all rushed in and saw it shattered on the floor. Someone lifted a scared Josh out of the way while Gran, Julie and Jacquie cleared up the mess.

Gran didn't really say much during all this. Either Julie or Jacquie commented that they thought she would have been more upset, after all the crystal bowl was a family heirloom!

"Ah, well," said Gran. "So is Josh."

She finished the clearing up, went back into the living room, sat Josh on her knee and started chatting again. She was one crystal bowl poorer, but she still had her most precious family heirloom.

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Posted by wayfarer
Jul 14, 2009
Comments (6)

Readers Comments

TheakstonCat wrote: What a wise woman Gran was! I had a similar experience when the boys were small. As the last of my 'good' wine glasses came crashing to the floor I wailed out loud, thinking "Am I not allowed to have anything nice anymore?" Looking into the tearful little faces of the toddler and little boy who were to become my kind and handsome sons, I suddenly thought that yes, I am allowed to have nice things - I have the 2 most beautiful additions to my life in my sons and that 'things' don't matter! I have always felt the same way since. I really have no care for status symbols or designer brands as long as I have my lovely 'boys' (who roll thier eyes when I call them such now they are grown men!) T.Cat x

FairyBubbles wrote: Yes, things don't matter - but people do - what a lovely Gran!

JuneBug wrote: My husband accidently broke one of my wine glasses the other day while he was putting dishes away. I heard the glass break and went into the kitchen. I threatened to ground him and send him to his room then helped him clean it up. Hey..One less glass to wash...:)

AURELIA wrote: What a special Granny. I'm sure she means the world to Josh too! I will have to remember this lesson in the future when I have wee ones around! Priceless...:0) ~Aurelia

Nandi wrote: WOW! I'm speechless! Wish I had a granny like Josh's and my childhood might have been different!! GREAT Granny...all my love to her!
I guess, that day she taught the entire family that family is more important than the family heirloom, people are more important than things, and most of all she conveyed that the real heirlooms are the grandkids and family members!!! I'm sure this incident would have helped Josh a lot in shaping up into the kind of a man he then would have become (I don't know how long back this happened!)
Great post, Wayfarer! THANKS!!
Love,
Nandi

iferlamb wrote: Thank you! She has it all in perspective.

Love people, use things.

Smiles.

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