Once there was a tree….and she loved a little boy…The boy loved the tree and the tree was very happy”, The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Yesterday was Grandparents Day and an opportunity to celebrate one of the great blessings in my life: the gift of becoming “Papa Bear” to my four grandchildren — Aurora, Redding, Irene, and Pete.
Grandparenting is more than just another title — it’s a role deeply rooted in unconditional love, patient presence, and the sheer joy of giving without expectation.
Being “Papa Bear” to my grandchildren has reconnected me to the timeless lessons discovered in children’s books like The Polar Express, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, and the Berenstain Bears — stories that once filled our home when my wife and I read them to our children.
Now in the fourth quarter of my life, I can share these same stories with my grandchildren. One book speaks to my heart, especially on a day like Grandparents Day — The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein.
At first glance, it seems a simple story: the enduring bond between a boy and a tree. But rereading it later in life often moves me to tears. It is not just a children’s book; it is a meditation on love, sacrifice, and the passing of time.
The tree gives her shade, her apples, her branches, even her trunk — until nothing remains but a stump. And in a final act of unconditional love, she offers the boy a place to rest.
In many ways, the book mirrors our own journey: from childhood innocence to old age, carrying powerful feelings of loving, longing, and loss along the way.
Being a grandparent isn’t about material gifts (though I still enjoy searching for books and treasures for my grandchildren). It is about our presence, the stories and lessons we leave behind, and the unconditional love that endures long after we are gone.
The Giving Tree encourages each of us to reflect on our own circle of relationships and how they shape our lives:
- Are you more like the tree — giving selflessly — or more like the boy, receiving without pause?
- What’s the most meaningful lesson you’ve learned from a grandparent?
- If you’re a grandparent, what “gifts” beyond things do you hope to pass down?
Wishing my fellow coaches, clients, colleagues, and friends the blessings of God’s abundant love.
Love,
Dr. K
#GrandparentsDay #TheGivingTree #FourthQuarterOfLife #LegacyOfLove
