Cherishing your grandparents is something most people know they should do, but sometimes need reminding about. It's often quite easy to take your grandparents for granted. They may be the people you see on holidays who cook you nice food and bake cookies that taste like no other, or they may be relatives you see quite often and probably helped raise you. Whatever their current role in your life may be, they had an important part in shaping who you are today, whether it be directly or instilling values through your parents from the way in which they raised them.

I always knew to cherish my grandparents as I'm sure every grandchild does, but it wasn't until the other day that the statement truly impacted me. Every time my grandmother comes into town, my dad constantly reminds me to spend time with her because she's getting older and her years are counting down.

This is the woman who practically raised me, introducing to me principles of life at such an impressionable age that helped form the person that I am today. As I sat with her at a restaurant for lunch, I realized that it had been a while since the last time I really spent quality time with her. She started talking about her early days, which is a common topic for her, but instead of counting the minutes that continued to pass by, I revered them. As she talked I found myself studying every inch of her face, wondering if it was the last time I would ever see it. I studied her eyes, always seeming to be filled with love as she spoke to me. My perception of her has changed as I've grown older. When I was young, she was a caretaker to me; my second mom. Then she became my teacher. She taught me a love for art, for reading, writing, and so many more of the interests I hold dearly today.

As I progressed through my teenage years, she became an embodiment of experiences for me. The stories she told of her youth held many differences, and it's incredible to hear how much has changed within the last century. She also went through struggles that I have the privilege of not having to endure. When I looked at her that day in the restaurant, I didn't see decay or deterioration but rather beauty and strength. When she laughed, I could hear the youth as she relived her childhood through her words. I felt a pang in my chest at the thought of having to say goodbye one day, if I'm even lucky enough to get the chance to. She's someone I never want to let go of.

You never know when they are going to leave, and often it doesn't come with warning. So cherish them while you can. Enjoy the food they make you, even though sometimes they give you enough to feed an entire army. Really listen to the stories of the past they tell you, even if they've told it a hundred times before. The words they speak are a personal piece of history you'll never gain from any textbook. There are millions of perspectives of a single point in history. This is their's and they are choosing to share it with you. Their love for you in unconditional, no matter what the distance may be. They see you as another child of their own, and value you as so. So accept that love, and hold on to it while you can.