My maternal grandfather lived past his 100th birthday. When he was about ninety and I was about forty, I paid him a visit. He told me that most of his life had been devoted to making a living but now money meant little to him because he realized that family is what matters most. Knowing his devotion to the Lord, I do not think for a second that he put anything above God, but he expressed something I have come to understand.
The most memorable moments are those times we have together. As I grow older, my mind often goes back to the days when our children and grandchildren were growing up, or when, after they were grown, they came back for holidays or special events. We don't do that much any more. Every one is busy with work and responsibilities, but the memories are wonderful.
I have worked all of my life. And I know how many times I should have just taken a few minutes to go by and say "hello" to my parents. My dad is gone now, and I am just now learning how difficult his last few years were. I should have done more for him. But I still have my mom. And I still have tomorrow, God willing.
After my dad passed away in February, my sister and I had to find a good assisted living facility for our mom. We went through everything in her house and sold off most of it. It was a bitter/sweet time, looking at old photographs we had not seen in years or had never seen at all and having to say goodbye to things Mom no longer had room for.
I found notes they had written. My dad had lost most of his hearing and my mom had lost some hearing, so I don't know if they were notes they had written to each other or notes they had written as reminders. Maybe both.
It seemed like they had kept every birthday card, anniversary card, valentine card or memento received over the last fifty or sixty years. It says they cared deeply for each other and for their family and could not part with remembrances. I hope to give my family the same conception or maybe the arduous task of getting rid of it.
Bottom line: love your family enough to go to church with them. Love them enough to serve the Lord. Leave them memories of a godly parent, grandparent, son, daughter or grandchild. Everyone will be happier for it.
The most memorable moments are those times we have together. As I grow older, my mind often goes back to the days when our children and grandchildren were growing up, or when, after they were grown, they came back for holidays or special events. We don't do that much any more. Every one is busy with work and responsibilities, but the memories are wonderful.
I have worked all of my life. And I know how many times I should have just taken a few minutes to go by and say "hello" to my parents. My dad is gone now, and I am just now learning how difficult his last few years were. I should have done more for him. But I still have my mom. And I still have tomorrow, God willing.
After my dad passed away in February, my sister and I had to find a good assisted living facility for our mom. We went through everything in her house and sold off most of it. It was a bitter/sweet time, looking at old photographs we had not seen in years or had never seen at all and having to say goodbye to things Mom no longer had room for.
I found notes they had written. My dad had lost most of his hearing and my mom had lost some hearing, so I don't know if they were notes they had written to each other or notes they had written as reminders. Maybe both.
It seemed like they had kept every birthday card, anniversary card, valentine card or memento received over the last fifty or sixty years. It says they cared deeply for each other and for their family and could not part with remembrances. I hope to give my family the same conception or maybe the arduous task of getting rid of it.
Bottom line: love your family enough to go to church with them. Love them enough to serve the Lord. Leave them memories of a godly parent, grandparent, son, daughter or grandchild. Everyone will be happier for it.
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