her family to take advantage of educational opportunities that she did not have herself . Now that I am fourteen , the same age she was when she was forced to leave school , I feel compelled to work hard and make the most of my education in her honor .
Jesus , Mary , and Joseph ! The idea of skipping Mass would get you in major trouble with my grandmother . She was a devout Catholic who went to Mass every day , and she was not afraid to voice the opinion that everyone else should go , too . My grandmother ’ s faith got her through difficult times like my grandfather ’ s illness and even her own . The Church was also important to her because it was her community . Now , my nuclear family goes to Mass every week . With piles of homework to do , hockey games , and my Xbox calling to me , Church on Sunday is usually not my first choice of things to do . However , once I am there , I take comfort in the familiar setting and rituals of the Mass . Even if I do not pay complete attention to the service , I feel connected to my family . I am thankful to my grandmother for this gift .
My grandmother was raised in a time and place that did not emphasize showing emotions . She was never overly affectionate with hugs and kisses . Instead , she showed her love with actions , most of which involved hard work . For example , every week when we visited her in Yonkers , my grandmother had a fresh batch of chocolate chip “ Grandma Mary Cookies ” ready for us to enjoy . One time , she served a meat sauce that was a big hit with my siblings and me . Every visit thereafter , that delicious meat sauce was ready to go on the stove whether we were there for a meal or not . It was her way of showing us that she was happy to see us . Personally , sometimes I have a difficult time expressing myself with words . I would rather have a catch with my brother , for instance , than tell him that I love him . This is okay , though . My grandmother showed me there are different ways to show love .
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