My Grandfather
My Grandfather
By: Shaira Olos
There was one person who had the most significant and strongest influence in my life. Throughout my childhood years, I learned countless lessons and values he taught me. That person was my grandfather, the greatest man I have ever known. Thanks to his influential characteristics and to our close relationship, I was shaped into the individual I am today. He was present throughout my physical, emotional, and spiritual growth. For ten years, he was my babysitter, my teacher, and my father. He was always there to cheer me up when I was feeling down. He was there when I had a bad day and needed a shoulder to cry on. My grandfather’s presence influenced me to not be a shadow of the world, to be hard working, and to be empathetic towards others. My grandfather greatly influenced me to not be a follower of the world. I remember one Sunday morning, as I sat next to my grandfather on the wooden chair on the front porch. I was reading “Jack and The Bean’s Stalk” when, I impulsively said to my grandfather, “I just wish we had a lot of money so we don’t have to work.” My grandfather then replied, "Be careful not to be attached to money, sweetheart. People cannot be committed to the world and God at the same time. We are to seek God first." I thought it was a very peculiar thing to say but now, I understood what he meant. I learned that to be a lover or a follower of the world was to live a life based on its riches, beliefs and priorities. To understand it more, my grandfather used to tell me a story from the Bible called "The Parable of the Prodigal Son." It is about a wealthy father who had a greedy son that demanded his inheritance for he craved and valued power, wealth, and glory. In the end, when he wasted the money that he valued the most, he suffered and was even willing to be a slave. This story taught me not to idolize money or the wealth of the world, as it would only ruin individuals in the end. My grandfather also taught me the
By: Shaira Olos
There was one person who had the most significant and strongest influence in my life. Throughout my childhood years, I learned countless lessons and values he taught me. That person was my grandfather, the greatest man I have ever known. Thanks to his influential characteristics and to our close relationship, I was shaped into the individual I am today. He was present throughout my physical, emotional, and spiritual growth. For ten years, he was my babysitter, my teacher, and my father. He was always there to cheer me up when I was feeling down. He was there when I had a bad day and needed a shoulder to cry on. My grandfather’s presence influenced me to not be a shadow of the world, to be hard working, and to be empathetic towards others. My grandfather greatly influenced me to not be a follower of the world. I remember one Sunday morning, as I sat next to my grandfather on the wooden chair on the front porch. I was reading “Jack and The Bean’s Stalk” when, I impulsively said to my grandfather, “I just wish we had a lot of money so we don’t have to work.” My grandfather then replied, "Be careful not to be attached to money, sweetheart. People cannot be committed to the world and God at the same time. We are to seek God first." I thought it was a very peculiar thing to say but now, I understood what he meant. I learned that to be a lover or a follower of the world was to live a life based on its riches, beliefs and priorities. To understand it more, my grandfather used to tell me a story from the Bible called "The Parable of the Prodigal Son." It is about a wealthy father who had a greedy son that demanded his inheritance for he craved and valued power, wealth, and glory. In the end, when he wasted the money that he valued the most, he suffered and was even willing to be a slave. This story taught me not to idolize money or the wealth of the world, as it would only ruin individuals in the end. My grandfather also taught me the