As we look ahead to celebrating the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly this coming Sunday, 26 July, a profound piece of wisdom comes to mind from the Rule of Saint Benedict: “The Lord often reveals what is better to the younger.”
At first glance, we might expect wisdom to flow exclusively downward from the oldest to the youngest. We naturally value our grandparents and elders for the decades of experience, resilience, and history they carry. Yet, Benedict’s ancient rule invites us to turn that expectation on its head.
Children have a rare, beautiful way of seeing the world before it becomes overly familiar to them. They notice the tiny beetle on a leaf, ask the unexpectedly deep questions, and offer an innocent clarity that adults often lose in the rush of daily life. They remind us that there is always another perspective waiting to be discovered. Perhaps that is one of the most unexpected gifts of spending time with children: they teach us how to be curious again.
Bridging the Distance for Our Defence Families
This beautiful, two-way exchange of learning is something we deeply cherish, but for our Defence families, it is an exchange that often has to conquer immense distances.
Military life demands frequent relocations, postings to remote bases, and operational deployments. As a result, Defence families spend most of their time living far away from their elderly relatives and grandparents. The typical Sunday roast at Grandma’s or the spontaneous weekday drop-in by Grandad are luxuries that geography frequently steals away.
This distance makes the role of elders in our community not less important, but significantly more vital.
Why Elders Matter Deeply to the Military Community
When a family is constantly on the move, grandparents and elderly relatives serve as an emotional anchor. They represent continuity, deep roots, and a stable sense of identity for children whose physical environments are always changing. Even from the other side of the country—or the world—their letters, video calls, and prayers remind our mobile children of where they come from.
Furthermore, within our isolated Defence pockets, local elders and veteran grandparents often step into the gap. They become adoptive grandparents to young families navigating a posting alone, offering a safe harbour of patience, a listening ear, and a steadying presence during times of deployment.
Finding Ways to Stay Close
- Schedule regular, low-pressure video calls where grandparents can simply watch the children play or draw, mirroring a relaxed, physical presence.
- Encourage traditional letter-writing so children can receive tangible, comforting mail from their elders to keep in their bedrooms.
- Adopt local elder mentors within your posting community to provide that grounding, grandparental warmth when biological relatives are far away.
A Hopeful, United Community
World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly offers all of us a beautiful opportunity to pause and recognise the people who have helped us see the world a little differently. It challenges us to build communities where we actively value the thoughts of every single generation.
When we intentionally create spaces for the young to learn from the old, and the old to be re-enchanted by the young, we build a profoundly hopeful future. This Sunday, let us honour the elders who anchor our Defence families from afar and thank them for the enduring perspective, love, and wisdom they bring to our entire community.
CMOA Media Team