I found my greatest inheritance to be ‘Paw Paw’

By Dawn Cusimano, NOLA Catholic Parenting

Parenting can sometimes be so hectic that we end up sacrificing relationships with others outside of our day-to-day scope.

I am so grateful and blessed that I have someone in my life who understands and appreciates all of that, and who reaches out to me every week to make sure I’m okay.

No matter how my day is going, I will immediately break into a smile when I hear my Paw Paw’s bona fide New Orleans accent on the other end of the line.

Paw Paw is a kind of stand-in father figure to my sister and me since our Dad passed away in 2017. Every week, he takes the time to call family members and friends just to check in because he is the kind of person who prioritizes authentic relationships.

Maybe it’s because he is from a generation that didn’t have text messaging. He even continues to write letters to his old Marine Corps buddies from 60-plus years ago.

It is a quality I greatly admire.

A recent visit to see him reminded me to slow down and appreciate this example he sets. I brought the kids over to spend an afternoon with Paw Paw that turned into much more than a simple visit.

We shared a meal together, and he delighted in the children, repeatedly telling them how proud they made him feel. Later, he passed out cookies and invited them to look through a collection of coins he had kept stored away for many years.

He commented that he didn’t have much to give them, but that he would like for them to have the coins and a few other special little tokens to treasure.

The children loved their gifts, and he loved giving them.

Time seemed suspended as I listened to his stories and watched the smiles on my children’s faces. Something about the moment made me appreciate this visit more than the others.

I realize now that I was witnessing a holy moment.
When we had to leave, I felt deeply grateful for the bonds between us all and the time well spent.

Paw Paw walked us out to the car, and, as everyone piled in their car seats, he told me that he prays for us every day. My heart was so full.

I remembered a quote by Lalah Delia that said, “Your grandmother’s prayers are still protecting you.”

I know that my grandfather’s prayers are protecting me, and that is priceless.

Talk about an inheritance. Even greater than any collection of coins.

Dawn Cusimano loves sharing her faith with her growing family. She is happily married for 12 years to David, and living in a semi-clean home, with five kids who eat lots of cereal. She homeschools her children and this adventure involves multiple, extended, international family trips with, hopefully, more to come. Dawn enjoys swimming, reading, traveling, baking and playing games with her kids.

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