Dec 20, 2018

“My wee Grandad, 87 years young and he’s my no.1 guy”.

A video showing a grandfather’s sheer delight when his granddaughter visits him is a reminder to all of us of the importance of reaching out to others, especially those who may be alone, during the holiday season.

A video has gone viral showing the absolute delight both a grandfather and his granddaughter experience when they meet weekly at his home.

Granddaughter, Jennifer Barclay, made the video out of footage recorded every time she visited him.

“I loved recording his reactions when I come to visit,” she wrote in the video post.

“I hope everyone can appreciate this video I’ve made as much as I do.”

The video shows Jennifer’s grandfather sometimes simply exclaiming in delight when he greets her at his front door. “Greetings,” he says joyfully one day. Another time he says, “Hello, honey bun.” One day he asks her for the secret password, to which she jokingly replies, “Please let me in for my dinner.”

More than eight million people have watched the home-made video, with thousands liking, sharing and commenting.

“I watched this with my 15-year-old daughter whose grandfathers died before and soon after her birth, and we were both so touched. What a lucky girl you are. Thank you for sharing,” wrote one viewer.

“I love this. You are a wonderful granddaughter to visit so often,” writes another.

Since the video has gone viral, Jennifer has set up an Instagram page devoted to her grandfather.

“I thought my grandad deserved an instagram page to keep everyone up to date with his adventures,” she writes on the page.

It’s impossible not to be touched by the delight and love these two share – and it is a reminder to us all, especially at this time of year, the pleasure we bring others when we make the effort to reach out to them to connect, especially when we connect with elderly folk who are living alone – this can be a lonely time of year.

A simple visit can bring people so much joy – especially when the alternative is being alone during the holiday season.

How do you answer your front door? Are you matter-of-fact about it, keeping the interaction merely transactional? Or are you welcoming, do you greet people with a smile, and delight, and maybe even a joke?

Who can you visit over the holiday season to help brighten their day?

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