This is my grandfather. Throughout my life he was there. He argued with my father about sports and politics. Grandma often needed to separate them to bring peace back into the house. Yet, he was a quiet man. His words always encouraged, never discouraged. That truth was brought home to me one night in December.
I had been staying with my grandparents along with my children because my relationship with my parents was not good. While I was there, I spent hours teaching myself how to play Silent Night so I could play it without the music. Grandpa sat in his chair in the corner by the window and watched two televisions. One had the ballgame on, the other his favorite soap opera. He muted the game. His only request for me was for me to play with the headphones on so he could listen to his soap opera. I never knew how much he paid attention to my practice of this hymn until my parents came to visit and my moment arrived. I wanted to play the song for them. Yet my mother’s criticism always caused me to falter in everything I did. No more so than on that night, when I told them I wanted to play the song for them. I started and faltered, and Mom started to criticize my attempt to be cut off sharply by Grandpa who reprimanded me. His exact words were, “Valerie, you can play better than that.” His encouragement shut my mother’s mouth and caused me to sit taller on the piano bench, poise my hands over the keyboard and play the song flawlessly to my mother’s surprise.
This quiet man who only argued with my dad, impacted my life in a way no one else had done before. I never forgot his words. They live in my heart and when I start to falter, I remember those powerful words that changed me and gave me confidence.
What man impacted your life? Let me know in the comments below. Thanks for reading. The image belongs to me.
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