Recently, as a grandfather, I had to talk to my grandkids and teach them something important. Jenny, my wife, knitted sweaters for them for hours, but they took them to a thrift shop and threw them away without thinking. You could feel the pain in her eyes.
I knew that grounding them wouldn’t be enough, so I came up with a way to teach them how much their grandma loved and worked for them.
I bought the sweaters back from the thrift store and put them in a package with knitting needles, wool, and a note that said, “Start knitting your own gifts now!” for each grandson.
People had different responses, but the point was made. When we got together for dinner, they were wearing the sweaters they had thrown away, and you could feel the strain.
But when they said they were sorry and apologized, the mood changed. They had learned something important about being thankful and appreciative.
As I looked around the dinner table, I saw that this event had brought my family closer together. Their hearts were touched by my wife’s forgiveness and kindness, and they learned to value the love and work that go into making something by hand.
Finally, our grandkids learned more than just how to knit. They also learned about love, respect, and how important it is to give gifts that are made with care. My wife’s heart felt warm when she realized that all of her hard work had finally been noticed.
