Today my thanksfulness lies with my paternal grandparents. My grandparents were never really a part of my life. There were no christmas presents under the tree from them or birthday cards holding money. When I was old enough to really understand the role grandparents usually played in a persons life, I was hurt that I didn't have the same thing. I was jealous of friends who were lucky enough to spend summers and holidays with their Granny and Gramps. But as I got older, it was just something that I knew I could not change and in turn, accepted.
I am thankful for my grandparents for one simple thing...they raised a very smart, compassionate, encouraging man whom I am lucky enough to call my father. My grandparents worked very hard to raise five children in their lifetime, my dad being the second oldest. Times were tough in the 1950's rural Kentucky but my grandfather and grandmother pushed through and were able to provide a home, food, as well as an education in hard knocks for my father. He was raised to be a respectful, God-fearing young man and today is his 59th birthday!
My father is the kind of man who would give you the shirt off his back whenever you needed it. He's the person you could call anytime of the day of night and he would be there to help out. He believes in working hard, playing hard, enjoying his family, and he has instilled these values in my sister and I as well. My father is an amazing father and wonderful grandfather to his seven grandchildren. Today I am thankful that my grandparents raised such an amazing person and that through their life, have taught him how to live as a man, a friend and a father. The values learned in his young life have been passed down to myself and in turn, I will try my hardest to pass those down to my own children.
These days, we don't get to see too much of my father due to time and distance, but we do our best to stay in touch. His children and grandchildren continue to be a huge part of his life and always will be. For that, I am also thankful.
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