Tim DeTellis

She did it! She has turned 90 and is as sharp as ever. Perfect hearing, great attitude, and energy like a bee. Learn with me the 9 lessons from my 90-year old grandmother.

1. Pray for others. For as long as I can remember my grandmother always had a prayer list. Not only with all her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, but friends and people she may have only met once.
2. Give generously. A little secret many do not know, is that my grandmother has always given more to others than to herself. It’s true that you can measure the heart of a person by their calendar and check book register.
3. Be a faithful spouse. Not only has health been good to her, but she has been faithfully married for 71 years! She loves and adores her husband Charles. I always was impressed with his tender humble spirit and now I know it’s because she loves him so much.
4. Study the Bible. Grandma would have magazines and the Bible on the coffee table, as long as I can remember. Each day she and her husband would reach each other scripture.
5. Have friends. If there was a women’s group at church, my grandmother was there. She loves conversation and spending time with people.
6. Collect something. My grandmother collects dolls. Not little dolls, but large beautiful dolls. The joy is that throughout her life, people caught on to her collection and began giving her dolls and each came with a precious story.
7. Have a hobby. My grandmother enjoys tatting and sews little decorative boarders around the edges of towels. She can take the most original towel and turn it into something extra special.
8. Whistle. This is something that I have personally adapted in my life. I whistle often because I grew up hearing my grandmother whistle like a bird. For some reason, when I whistle, it seems like the worries of the world fade away.
9. Eat healthy. No donuts for you! Grandma is one healthy person. She cooks without salt and my favorite is her homemade lentil soup. Last Christmas my wife and I visited her and we had lentil soup making lessons. If there was something she made that was defined as unhealthy, it was the pizzelles (Italian cookies). Then again, for an Italian, those are required for living, so they are somewhat healthy in our minds. Grandma also does not like restaurants. She prefers to cook at home.

Personally, I am thankful for my grandmother because she has been a life-long example of a person who loves family, friends, and her faith is the foundation. I remember staying at grandma’s house and playing board games together like Sorry and Aggravation. Back then, she lived on a lake in Sterling, Massachusetts. It was in that lake that I learned to swim. Thank you grandma for your love and example! I look forward to your 100th birthday celebration.

~Timmy (that’s what grandma calls me)