When people hear Jonathan Anthony Burkett’s story, they usually remember the storms first. His memoir, Neglected But Undefeated: The Life Of A Boy Who Never Knew A Mother’s Love, tells of a painful childhood, of being homeless at fourteen and of brain surgery in 2005 for a disorder that caused seizures.
But before any of that, there was a gentler chapter. As Jonathan shares in his memoir, he spent his early childhood happily with his grandparents in Jamaica. At six, he moved back to the United States to live with his mother, and the hard years began.
This week, as many families start planning to gather for the holidays, we want to linger on that first chapter. It holds a quiet lesson for every grandparent, aunt, uncle and older friend reading this.
The Years Before the Storm
Nobody can measure exactly what those early years gave a little boy. Jonathan’s memoir simply tells us they were happy. That one word matters. A child who has known a happy home, even for a short time, has seen what love looks like. He has a picture to hold on to when life turns dark.
Jonathan went on to face more than most people ever will. Yet he did not give up. Through faith and writing, he forgave his mother and kept moving forward. He became an author, a songwriter and an entrepreneur, and he founded Upstormed, whose name is all about rising up out of the storm.
He describes the source of that strength plainly:
“Faith is why I’m here today and faith is why I made it through.”
Jonathan Anthony Burkett, Neglected But Undefeated
Why Early Love Matters
Grandparents often wonder whether the small things they do really count. A bedtime story. A plate of food. A walk to the shop. A prayer whispered over a sleeping child. These moments can feel ordinary. They are not.
The early years are when children learn whether the world is safe and whether they are loved. When grandparents fill those years with warmth, they are planting seeds that may not bloom until long after. They may never see the harvest. But God does.
Scripture gives older generations a beautiful assignment:
“Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.”
Psalm 71:18 (KJV)
The psalmist did not ask for a long life just to enjoy it. He asked for time to show God’s strength to the next generation. That is a calling for every grandparent.
Five Ways to Be a Safe Harbor for a Child
- Be present, not perfect. Children remember who showed up. A regular phone call, a Saturday visit or a weekly video chat can mean more than any gift.
- Tell them they are loved, out loud. Do not assume they know. Say it, and say it often.
- Share your faith in simple ways. Pray with them at meals and at bedtime. Tell them about times God carried you through hard seasons.
- Keep the door open. Some children are walking through storms adults cannot fully see. Let them know there is always a place at your table and a listening ear.
- Notice the quiet ones. If a child in your family or church seems withdrawn or afraid, gently check in. If you believe a child is being harmed, contact local child protective services or the police. Caring adults make a difference.
When You Are Far Away
Many grandparents live in another city or even another country, the way Jonathan’s grandparents in Jamaica did after he moved to the United States. Distance does not cancel love. Write letters and cards. Send photos. Record yourself reading a Bible story. Pray for each grandchild by name every day. Love can cross oceans.
The Story Behind the Name
Jonathan’s best-known words remind us that everyone carries a history we cannot see:
“You know my name, not my story. You’ve heard what I’ve done, but not what I’ve been through.”
Jonathan Anthony Burkett, Neglected But Undefeated
Every child’s story includes the people who loved them first. If you are a grandparent, you may be writing the happiest chapter in a child’s story right now. Do not underestimate it. Through every storm, we rise together.
What is one thing a grandparent or older family member did for you as a child that you still carry with you today?
Learn more about Jonathan at www.jonathanburkett.com
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Sources: Jonathan Anthony Burkett, Neglected But Undefeated (published facts); Goodreads, Jonathan Anthony Burkett; KJV Psalm 71:18.
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