Grateful for grandparents

McALLEN — Their hair may be graying, and they may not keep up as well as mom and dad.

But grandparents have plenty of other admirable qualities, said the children of Iglesía Metodísta Unida El Divino Redentor in McAllen — not the least of which was spoiling them rotten.

The church honored the elder members of their congregation Sunday in a special Grandparents Day service featuring recitations from children, gift bags for seniors and an updated version of a popular children’s hymn.

“Jesus loves me, this I know,” church members sang. “Though my hair is white as snow.”

The service coincided with one of the lesser-known holidays on the country’s celebratory calendar. National Grandparents Day became a national celebration in 1978 when President Jimmy Carter designated the first Sunday after Labor Day a time to honor those in “the autumn years” of life.

Thirty years later, the day doesn’t inspire the same mad rush to flower shops and tie racks as those holidays for our more immediate predecessors. Yet, grandparents have taken on a larger role in the day-to-day lives of their grandchildren.

Almost 4 million children across the country live in households headed by grandparents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Nearly 3 million of the nation’s grandparents are solely responsible for the basic needs of their youngest descendants.

“Something has changed in our society,” El Divino Redentor Pastor Edward Garcia said. “Grandparents have to be parents in many cases.”

In the Rio Grande Valley, where family bonds rival food and shelter as basic elements of life, grandparents are even more likely to have a hand in the raising of children.

Of the tots involved at Sunday’s church service, almost all reported weekly contact with their grandparents.

Nayelli Gutierrez, 11, of McAllen, spent most of her summer baking and taking long walks in the park with her grandmother, Martha Guerra, while her mom spent the days earning her college degree.

Guerra eagerly volunteered to look after Nayelli and her two younger siblings but admitted some relief that school was back in session.

“Summer,” she sighed. “Phew…”

Grandmotherly influence led Pastor Edward Garcia to his current career. Growing up in San Antonio, the now 49-year-old’s grandmother took him with her as she cleaned his boyhood church each week.

“It was there, that she put the fear of God in me - the respect for God,” he said.

Four decades later, the pastor was glad to shepherd that tradition continue to a new generation.

Guerra was just thankful for a little recognition.

“As small as they are,” she said, “they can still tell us they appreciate us. It’s touching.”

Jeremy Roebuck covers courts, law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4437.