Woman Takes Care of Her Grandfather, Family Ignores Him until He Passes Away

A woman who was extremely close to her grandfather and with whom she shared a heartwarming connection decided to look after him when he became unwell. However, she was baffled when her family’s attitude toward him changed suddenly one day. 

Actions speak louder than words, and perhaps that’s why we should try our best to be helpful and kind toward each other. We might learn some of the most life-altering and painful truths when we experience trials and tribulations. 

It’s often said that challenging times help us realize our strength and ultimately bring out the best in us. But at the same time, hardships might also test our patience and heavily weigh down on our nerves, leaving us utterly confused and at a crossroads in life. 

EARLY CHILDHOOD

A user turned to Reddit to address a personal dilemma, hoping to find the answers that would help her find some peace of mind and heart. She identified herself as a 29-year-old woman who grew up in a Christian family. 

Describing her upbringing, the woman shared that her parents ingrained the concept of “predefined gender roles” in her from a tender age. As a youngster, she somehow accepted the way she was raised. However, as she got older, she started questioning certain things. 

She also had an elder brother, who she said was “the second king of the house,” as her parents liked to call him. This meant that he was the second in line to authority after her parents, and his orders were to be taken seriously.

BEING CLOSE TO HER GRANDPA

Like many kids her age, the woman was incredibly fond of her grandfather, and fortunately, he reciprocated her sentiments.

But after her late granddad’s last rites were completed, the woman expressed she saw everything changing. 

According to her, the primary reason why she and her grandpa became close was that he disapproved of the way her parents raised her with a growing sense of following through the gender norms. 

A SWEET COUPLE

Redditor aIt_throwthrow explained that her grandparents lived in a lovely home with no neighbors and a beautiful garden laden with trees. She further mentioned that the house was incredibly special to them, and it took them many years to pay it off. 

The woman’s grandparents hoped to spend the winter of their lives happily and peacefully. However, her grandfather’s health declined over time, and he developed back problems and a severe health condition, which made it difficult for him to move around. 

Things took a sad turn when the Redditor’s grandmother died, and her granddad was left reeling with her irreparable loss. Moreover, his critical condition meant that he needed at-home care and support. 

MOVING IN WITH HER GRANDDAD

Original Poster (OP) stated that her grandfather didn’t want a stranger in his home, especially in the wake of losing the love of his life, his beloved wife. On the other hand, her parents’ attitude toward him deeply upset and baffled her. She wrote: 

“My parents preached that it was punishment for all his sins so they wouldn’t take care of him and were planning on putting him in a home.”

Despite her parents’ reportedly odd treatment of her granddad, OP said she decided to stay with him so he would receive care from a family member instead of a stranger. She said she made necessary arrangements and even started doing her job from home. 

LOSING HER GRANDPA

When she took care of her grandfather, their sweet bond filled the home with love and laughter. But her granddad continued to get worse, and throughout the ordeal, OP confessed that she didn’t hear a word from her parents or older brother. 

She recalled a conversation with her granddad, where he light-heartedly talked about signing the deed of his house in her name. While she thought he was joking at the time, she admitted she didn’t accept what the future would bring. 

Unfortunately, OP lost her grandfather, and despite her disagreements with her parents, she didn’t want them to find out the tragic news from a stranger. They showed up at the funeral, and she confessed it was the first time she had connected with them in years. 

HER GRANDFATHER’S WILL

As OP and her family grieved her grandfather’s loss, they came together momentarily and comforted each other. But after her late granddad’s last rites were completed, the woman expressed she saw everything changing. 

Soon afterward, it was time for everyone to get acquainted with the older man’s will. According to OP, an intense round of family drama ensued as her late grandpa’s testament finally came to light. 

It turned out that the older man had left everything that was supposed to go to OP’s father, to her, including the house. The woman noted that her family accused her of manipulating her grandfather into giving everything to her. 

MORE FAMILY TROUBLE

Sometime later, OP revealed that her older brother came to her place in tears with a special request. She described: 

“He was begging me to give him the house since his was too small for his wife and baby. He argued that because it’s just me and my husband and we don’t want kids I don’t need it.”

Even though she told him to leave, the woman admitted she felt terrible about it later. She said she couldn’t stop replaying the scenario in her head, and a part of her knew she didn’t need the house because her job paid her well and she could live anywhere. 

SHARING HER STORY

But at the same time, OP knew that her grandfather had wanted her to inherit the house because he didn’t want to leave it to her father. Utterly confused and clueless about whether she did the right thing, she shared her story in the “AITA section” on Reddit. 

OP asked other Redditors if she should give up the house she inherited from her granddad. Redditor czndra67 commented:

“You took care of your grandfather out of love, expecting nothing in return. Your dad and brother gave nothing, and expected everything in return. Keep the house. Your grandfather made the right decision.”

REDDITORS’ REACT

Another Redditor, CrochetBeth, opined that envy was a sin, and good Christians always helped those in need without being judgmental. The user added that OP’s parents only followed the “the man is the head of the household” part of Christianity.

Furthermore, the Redditor remarked that OP’s family didn’t get the Ten Commandments, especially when one is asked to “honor their father and mother,” which was why they didn’t honor her grandfather. 

A third Redditor, TrekkerOne, listed the seven deadly sins and suggested that OP write the sins on a fancy card and send it to her parents because they were hitting many of them. 

Redditor Slow-Bumblebee-8609 responded that since OP’s parents once said her grandfather was being punished for his sins, they shouldn’t want a sinner’s house. The user asked OP to remind her parents of, “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.” Further, the Redditor wrote:

“On all seriousness, your grandpa gave it to YOU. He wanted YOU to live in a house he loved and lived on, he wanted to give that for YOU. Giving it away to someone who insulted him and treated him as less than is almost an insult to his memory.”

The majority of the Redditors suggested OP not feel guilty for inheriting her grandfather’s house. Instead, they recommended she relish in the joy of living in the beautiful home and honor his memory.

Questions to Ponder: 

Do you think OP’s grandfather was justified in leaving the house to her?

According to the story, it was clear that OP shared a lovely bond with her granddad and looked after him when he was unwell. The grandfather-granddaughter duo had always been close, and perhaps the older man left her the house to thank her for her love and time.

What do you think?

Do you think OP’s family was right in being angry with her regarding the inheritance matter? 

There was hardly a moment where OP’s parents respected or felt for her grandfather throughout the story. They always ignored him and didn’t show any care or affection, even when he was unwell.

Her family’s behavior only changed when they learned about her grandfather’s death. One might think they only did it to claim their share in the inheritance, as was evident from OP’s dad and older brother’s behavior. What are your thoughts? 

If you enjoyed reading this article, you might like this one where a granddaughter defended her grandfather’s last wish regarding an inheritance that caused a family rift. 

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