I’m grateful that they live close by and we get to see them on Sundays and during the week, that we get to be a regular part of their lives. They bring such a brightness to our house, an energy that reminds me of when this place was hoppin’ and boppin’ with kids (which doesn’t seem so long ago). Maria is now the same age as Jojo was when I started this blog, which is … amazing to me! Yet they are very much their own persons. Families are a great sign that every human person is unique and “given” by God, but also that we “belong” to one another in a communion of life which is the “environment” for the growth of love and freedom. We share in the great history of the human family which stretches long into the past and that continues to unfold under the goodness of God’s loving providence.
God sees everyone within the interrelationship of this human history — especially those who are suffering, who are lonely, who are separated from their loved ones, who are in poverty and sickness, or are hindered or divided by violence, dysfunctional behaviors, addictions, or deep wounds inflicted on one another. Jesus our brother (!) redeems and raises us up, brings forgiveness and opens up possibilities for “new beginnings,” and remains with us always within this history, and the Holy Spirit works through the Church and in the mysterious depths of the human heart of every person, so that the we might finally dwell together with the whole human family as transfigured persons in God’s own likeness within an eternal communion of presence and love with the Triune God and one another.
I’ll have to develop these meditations further on another day: they are the profound truth that makes real the activity of “Papa and the granddaughters having fun,” that gives it meaning and draws it into the joy that will never end. But Papa doesn’t get to think about it much when the grandchildren are here — instead he is summoned to read books and play with blocks and toys and games, or just listen to them as they begin to articulate their own experiences and questions and sense of humor.
I wanted to share a few recent pictures. The first set of two pictures below this text feature Papa with Anna. She is two-and-a-half years old, and is always excited to see Papa. Soon she toddles over with a stack of children’s books and says, “Read! Read!” In the next picture we see Maria, nearly five years old (!) helping her seven-month-old sister Catherine (Catie) with a bottle of Mom’s milk. Maria is very attentive to both her little sisters (usually) and she is already attending Montessori “Primary” School (ages 3-6) and flourishing there. We have begun to have real conversations, which is amazing! She is very bright, and also has “wit.” She seems to “get” my humor, and responds cleverly when I tease her.
Finally, my face squeezes in on a “triple selfie” with Maria and Catie (and some kind of stuffed animal). Baby Catie is growing! She reminds us of her father when he was her age. She’s happy and snuggly… when she’s not hungry, tired, crying, or just “kvetching” — as my mother used to say, because New York Italians picked up a bit of Yiddish in the old days from their Jewish neighbors. When I remember those old words (that were used to describe me as a little kid), it feels like my mother is close to me and our family.
We need the “closeness” of my Mom and Dad these days, in the mystery of the “communion of saints” that sustains human bonds of love even as it transforms them. As the “Virginia Janaros” face together a new and difficult trial of one among them (many of you know about this — please keep praying — but at the appropriate time I’ll probably write about it here). Things are stable for now, and there is a plan.
As for myself, I’m finding peace, and — for the time being — a bit of improvement in health. The grandchildren are a very good “medicine,” even if I’m worn out by the end of their visits. It’s a “good kind” of worn out. I have explained a little to Maria about my ailments (why I use a cane to walk, and other chronic problems that she is already sharp enough to notice). She doesn’t quite understand. One time she said, “Don’t worry, Papa. It’s not because you’re sick. It’s just that you’re very very very very OLD!” Ha! The white beard contributes to that perception, I’m sure.
Catie has reached the age where she loves to grab the beard and pull on it! Ouch!! She’s got a good grip.🙂 (see picture above).
