In these fast-paced times, it’s not surprising that many of us can hardly find time for ourselves, let alone others, as we are so busy working or commuting, running errands, picking up the children or making dinner and the like.
With all the number of tasks we have to get done every day, a lot can fall by the wayside, including those who should be the most important to us – our family.
However, it’s essential to remember that the time we spend with our loved ones is never wasted and that showing the people around us who we truly love and cherish that we appreciate them can make a world of difference.
This is especially true when it comes to elderly folk, as we all never know how much time we have left. Therefore, it is so important to carve out time to spend with family in their twilight years to appreciate everything they have to teach us and make precious memories before it’s too late.
This lesson was highlighted in a series of viral posts in which one woman shared her sweet relationship with her 92-year-old grandfather, which included her heartbreaking reaction to receiving a call from her beloved grandfather, crying as he invited her for a sleepover.
Megan Elizabeth wrote on Instagram on April 25, 2022, that when she was younger, she used to live across the street from her grandparents and that she and her family even lived with them for a while before her father could afford a house. However, she said after her grandmother died of Alzheimer’s a few years ago, his health has been declining and that he sometimes reaches out to her in moments of loneliness.
In one emotional TikTok post, Elizabeth said her grandfather called her in tears one night in April 2022 before texting her a heartrending request.
“Hi Megan, it’s grandpa. Would you like to come over and have a sleepover? I haven’t been feeling well and miss you. We can order food and watch a mystery show. Love, grandpa.”
Moved to tears herself, Elizabeth responded yes before asking him if he wanted her to pick up anything from the store. He then requested applesauce and mashed potatoes because “I have no teeth and can only eat soft things. Ha. Love you.” He then called her “his favorite granddaughter” before also asking for ice cream.
The video then shows them eating in front of the TV. Before bed, her grandfather made sure she had water before showing her to her room, where he had made her bed just as he used to when she was a child, with her grandma’s favorite doll. In the sweetest goodnight gesture, he also left her a flashlight “in case she got scared.”
The next morning, Elizabeth had to leave early in the morning for work, but grandpa was awake nevertheless to wave her goodbye from the driveway.
In a separate post, Elizabeth described how she is learning to live in the moment, a lesson she attributes to her grandfather, who always “lived his life with intent.”
“It’s important to surround yourself with positive people so when you’re looking back on your life at 92 that you smile and you’re happy.”
Elizabeth and her grandfather’s beautiful relationship reminds us that we should never take our loved ones for granted and take every opportunity we can to care for and cherish them before it’s too late.
Have you been spending quality time with your loved ones? What’s your fondest memory of time spent with your family? Let us know and pass this on to the family members you’re missing the most right now!
