We are two of 25 grandchildren of Leonard and Sarah Thayer.  This is where our memories of helping others and the importance of family were established.  Leonard’s public service as township trustee and auditor and Sarah’s willingness to take in anyone that needed a meal, a bed, or encouragement through Scripture or action were the core of their teachings.  On our visits to Grandma and Grandpa’s, there was always an extra person or two and this was their normal.  We never felt slighted or uncomfortable with these ‘strangers’, as they weren’t strangers long.  They were always treated like family members.  That same rule applied at our parent’s house as well.  There were already eight of us, sitting at the kitchen table, but watering down the soup, adding a few more potatoes to accommodate more wasn’t a problem.  Sometimes you might have trouble seeing the meat on your plate though since it was so small, having been cut into pieces to feed everyone!  This practice has continued in our homes now too.  It’s the rare occasion that there is a planned invitation.  Even when someone stops in, they’re welcome, regardless of the occasion.

This welcoming factor seems to contradict today’s fears.  Today’s parents use phrases such as “stranger danger’ to teach their children to be wary of all strangers which cultivates that fear factor.  My kids were along with me at the grocery one day when they were young.  The clerk was surprised when my kids greeted her without her first talking to them.  She commented, “that’s unusual.  Most of the times the kids are near tears if I try to talk to them.  I guess they should be cautious with strangers though.”  I replied, “You’re a stranger to them.  Are you intending to hurt them?”  She replied, “Of course not.”   

Maybe that rule of ‘stranger danger’ has done a disservice to society?    Most people have good intentions and should not be feared.  Teaching the kids to use judgment and some common sense to properly evaluate who they should be cautious of might be a better lesson.  

Malcolm Gladwell’s recent book, “Talking to Strangers”  provides some examples, illustrating results of the stranger-danger mentality.  The world is at a different time now as compared to our grandparents time, but it is our belief that the good intentions of the vast majority of the people in it, are still the same. 

The purpose of this blog is to provide examples of our real life experiences to illustrate how our grandparents influence has taught us how to help others in whatever way we can.  Family lessons and stories are at the core of this blog and we firmly believe that while sharing our gene pool with our biological family members is important to us, we also have family members that are members by our mutual choice, and not by our genes.