Jenna Bush Hager is open about her deep family ties. She often references her family in conversations on Today. Recently, a moving poem from a guest on the show reminded Jenna of her grandfather, George H.W. Bush.
Poet Cleo Wade appeared on the show to share an excerpt from a poem that she wrote about racism. She also discussed having conversations with children about these difficult subjects. At the end of the segment, she shared the best advice she had ever received, which was from a friend's grandfather. It reminded Jenna of all the advice she'd received from George.
It's been almost two years since the former president died at 94 years old. Jenna has been very dedicated to keeping his legacy going. She recently wrote a book about the valuable life lessons she learned from George and Barbara Bush, who died just months before her husband of 73 years. Everything Beautiful in Its Time: Seasons of Love and Loss was released in April. On Thursday, Jenna got emotional as she remembered the guidelines her grandfather gave her to live by.
Jenna Bush Hager shared a close relationship with grandfather George H.W. Bush. She was crushed when the former president passed away at the age of 94 in November 2018. It came just months after the family lost matriarch Barbara Bush.
The two weren't just at the center of a political dynasty. They were also at the heart of their family, and their fierce love and loyalty made them widely admired figures.
"It's very interesting when you lose these people that you love so much and also you're filled with awe that they're beloved by everybody," Jenna told People.
Jenna has spent a lot of time reflecting on her relationship with her grandparents. In April, she released Everything Beautiful in Its Time: Seasons of Love and Loss. In the book, she reflects on the wisdom she learned through watching the two and through conversations between them throughout the years.
You can tell how much Jenna misses those words when she honored George on the first anniversary of his death.
"One year yesterday, we lost our Gamps. He is gone but he left behind a family that loves each other— we talked yesterday about how much we love him and each other," she wrote.
"He showed us that serving with humility is the best way to serve and that living with kindness and generosity of spirit is the best way to live. We miss you Gampy, but as Mila said yesterday: don't worry mama, he's celebrating in heaven with Ganny. ."
"As long as I'm alive, my grandparents will not be forgotten," Jenna told her Today cohosts.
"I hear their voices in the letters they sent me and in my memories. They offer comfort, support, and guidance, and I will listen to them always."
On Thursday's edition of Today With Hoda and Jenna, Jenna got emotional when the memory of her grandfather came up. Jenna and Hoda were discussing a previous segment featuring poet Cleo Wade. Cleo shared an excerpt from a poem she wrote about fighting racism.
At the end of Cleo's appearance, she detailed the best advice she had ever been given. It reminded Jenna of the many words of wisdom her grandfather had passed along to her.
"My grandpa, who lived until he was 94, I'll never forget. Well, first of all, he had this little list of rules that he lived by and they're all really good ones, like, 'Don’t talk all the time. Listen to your mentors and friends and learn from them,'" she explained as Hoda laughed along.
Jenna shared the complete list. "I actually have them memorized, which is kind of weird," she joked.
- Don’t get down when your life takes a bad turn.
- Don’t blame others for your setbacks.
- When things go well, always give credit to others.
- Don’t talk all the time. Listen to your friends and mentors and learn from them.
- Don’t brag about yourself. Let others point out your virtues, your strong points.
- Give someone a hand. When a friend is hurting, show that friend you care.
- Nobody likes an overbearing big shot.
- As you succeed, be kind to people. Thank those who help you along the way.
- Don’t be afraid to shed a tear when your heart is broken or because a friend is hurting.
"And so he had these list of rules, but I'll remember we were sitting in Maine one night around the dinner table and it was the last summer of his life," she recalled.
"And he looked at me and he couldn't hear very well and so he wasn't as much part of the conversation, and he loved conversations. He loved conversations where there were agreements, where there were disagreements, with friends, with political 'enemies' who became friends, and he leaned over to me and he could barely speak, and he said, 'Don't forget to enjoy the game.'"
Jenna was overwhelmed with that pearl of wisdom and what it truly meant. "And it broke my heart into a thousand pieces because what he meant is life is meant to be enjoyed, celebrate it," she said tearfully.
"I think he also probably felt by that point he wasn't in it as much."
Last month, Jenna spoke about her grandmother's legacy after the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy organized the digitizing of audio of Barbara reading children's stories on her radio show from the early 1990s.
"When I think of her, I think of books," Jenna told People. "I love to read a lot because of her, so to have those old tapes with her voice — which to me is such an important voice in literacy — it's going to be so cool, and I think in a time when we want hope, nostalgia brings us some of that."
"I was just filled with nostalgia, because when I think of my grandmother, I think of being curled up on the couch with her in the summers and her reading us our summer reading," Jenna said.
"Through my mother and my grandmother, I really fell in love with reading."
It seems that Jenna is dedicated to keeping George and Barbara's legacy going in every way she can. Her dedication is a beautiful testament to their family bond.
