This past summer, my daughter faced health challenges that required her to spend several nights away from home. To help her be brave, I reminded her of something I hold deeply: “I am always with you, and the DNA of your ancestors flows within you, providing strength.”
This holiday season, I find myself reflecting on the resilience and love of my grandmothers—the women whose hands shaped my family in more ways than one.
The stockings that hang on our mantle today were lovingly handcrafted by one of my grandmothers. She made one for me when I was young, and later for my husband and each of our children, welcoming them into the family. Those same hands endured extraordinary hardships. She lost her father and stepfathers, experienced the pain of a brother missing in war, and lived alone after the death of her husband.
Yet, she remained a pillar of strength—traveling the world, serving as a librarian, engaging in her community, and opening her home to strangers and even a foster child. She loved fiercely, sewed and baked with care, and could light up a room with her humor. Her resilience lives on in me and my children, and her stockings remind me of the strength and love she gave to us all.
And then, there’s the angel that tops our Christmas tree every year. It came from my other grandmother, crafted piece by piece together at her kitchen table. That one-on-one time was a cherished gift, and I looked up to her in every way. Her hands were the same hands that fiercely loved her children and grandchildren.
She raised a special needs child in a time when little was known about how to support such families. Even as she was dying of cancer, she answered my calls and let me snuggle in her bed whenever I visited. She always had my favorite cookies waiting and made sure I felt included, giving me my own little coffee or tea (extra sugar and milk, of course!) even during adult conversations. She was the first to volunteer to take me to the pool on family camping trips and always seemed to know exactly what we wanted under the Christmas tree.
Both of my grandmothers showed me what it means to live with love, resilience, and strength. Their stories remind me that we are shaped by those who came before us. Psychologists have found that knowing our family history can boost resilience and self-esteem, grounding us in a sense of belonging and purpose. The traditions and heirlooms they left behind—whether a stocking or an angel—are not just decorations but bridges to the past, reminders of who we are and where we come from.
As I pass on these stories to my daughter, I hope she feels the unshakable strength of the women who came before her. They faced unimaginable challenges, but they also lived with incredible love and joy, leaving behind a legacy that flows through us today.
This season, let us honor the stories and sacrifices of our ancestors, finding inspiration in their journeys and recognizing the profound impact they have on our lives. May their spirit guide and strengthen us, now and always.
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