Memory is like a fire that needs to be stoked and fed or it will burn out. This past Shabbat we remembered April’s dad who died 5 years ago. We still give him his birthday Shabbat where we tell stories, laugh, cry, and toast to all the things he imparted to our family. He is still a part of who we are. And he continues to impart new things to us. Each time we take part in this tradition I learn new things about him that help shape my life. I learned that he insisted on being called “Grandpa Don” because as he was growing up he never learned the first names of his grandparents. I saw Don from the perspective of his kids, his wife, his grandkids, and his other in-laws in new ways. You hear people say things at funerals like, “we’ll keep your memory alive,” but without a practice to ensure this happens these are often hollow sentiments. But not in our family. On their birthdays we still remember them, and as these memories are shared, we open our hearts to let them speak to us again. Jeremy P.S. This is a birthday picture of Grandpa Don and Elisa, our daughter.

This entry is a part of Jeremy’s Journal, a newsletter Jeremy sends out every month to encourage you on your parenting journey. You can sign up to get them here.