My paternal grandmother died shortly after I graduated from high school. We lovingly called her Granny because she reminded us of Granny on the Beverly Hillbillies show. She was thin with white hair in a bun, and she wore small wire rimmed glasses.

Some time ago my youngest sister took me down memory lane by making me cinnamon rolls like our grandmother used to make. I can remember watching Granny throughout the entire process of rolling out the dough to pulling the rolls from the oven. Granny didn’t like to wear her false teeth, and I found it amusing to watch her roll out the bread dough. Her toothless mouth and lips would move in rhythm with her rolling pan.

When the dough was just right, she would pour hot melted butter over the surface, and generously sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon. After rolling the dough she would slice it into one-inch rolls, place them in a cake pan, cover with a damp dishtowel, and wait for the rolls to rise before baking.

Now, many years later, all of my grandparents are gone. Each one was very special to me, and I still treasure the memories. My parents have become the oldest in the family, and I am now a grandfather of two toddlers. My love for my grandparents played a major role in what has become my life’s work, and that work is even more important today.

Sadly, seniors are some of the most forgotten in society. As many as sixty percent of those in care homes rarely receive a visit from family, friends, or the church. Many more live alone in their homes. If there is a senior in your life, don’t neglect them. Love them! If they have passed on, you can do what I did, adopt others. Everybody needs to be loved, especially our seniors.

Stan Means
Elder Source Senior Ministries

PS – The picture above is from the Salty Spoon website. I chose this picture because it reminded me so much of Granny’s cinnamon rolls