Page 74 - Senior Link Magazine Spring 2018 - Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS
2 2

Senior Senior

A Legacy

of

Kindness

by Yasmine Soto

“Not every day is good, but there is to do was make a phone call. Growing
something good in every day.” This up, I have realized even more that,
quote reminds me of the kind of mindset not only is he there for me but also for
my grandfather has - always looking anyone who crosses his path. Family,
for something good in every day. My friends, church members, even people
grandfather’s name is Ignacio Soto, and who barely know him can see the kind
he is the hardest-working, most honest of man he is. From the simplest thing to
and dedicated man I know. When asked the most tremendous, he is always there
to write about a senior citizen, I had no when people need him. For that, I think
trouble in choosing whom that person he deserves a lot more recognition than
would be. he gets.
My grandfather, Ignacio, and From the time my grandfather was just a
grandmother, Francis, have been teen, he had to take on the responsibility
married for 45 years and have four of caring for his five brothers and four
children. They have six grandchildren, sisters, as if they were his children. My
including me, whom he is always willing grandfather has told me many stories
to do anything for. My grandfather about the hard circumstances he went
is also the pastor of our church and through as a child until he was a teen. grandfather became older, he began
has been for many years. Throughout His father was hardly home to spend to realize more and more that living
those years, I was fortunate enough time with his family, and when he was, that way was not right. Living with an
to hear him preach very life-changing he was not in his right mind. Thus my abusive, alcoholic father, my grandfather
sermons about how astonishing God is. grandfather, along with his siblings, wanted a better life for the rest of his
The passion my grandfather puts into never had the opportunity to have a family. After he and my grandmother
his teachings makes them all the more close bond with their father. got married, they both moved in all of
superior. his siblings and raised them as their
My grandfather also was working by own. My grandfather knew it would be
From the time I was a baby, to now the age of four in order to bring home difficult; however, he did not want his
being 17 and a senior in high school, money for his family. He worked in the brothers and sisters to go through the
my grandfather has always been there cotton fields, picking cotton in the most things he had and see the things that he
for me. Whether it was just giving me humid and scorching temperatures. saw as a child. He worked every day
money when the ice cream man showed Although his mother worked also, times to make sure they had the money to be
up or praying for me when I was in were still hard, sustaining a living for stable. He also took good care of my
pain - anytime I needed him, all I had all of the 12 family members. As my grandmother, and since they have been

74 Lubbock Senior Link