2/27/2025
When I was a little girl some of my favorite memories were being with my grandparents. I know I've talked about this before, and I probably will again, but it's true! I loved spending Saturday at their home, then getting up early to eat breakfast and clean up before we go off to church. My papa could make me smile and burst out in laughter over the slightest thing. He loved to tell stories, and grammy used to tell him he was lying. Then the loving banter would go on for awhile. Papa used to love to watch Roller Derby and wrestling. Grammy loved her soaps and Lawrence Welk on Saturday nights. Perhaps that's why I'm so old-fashioned and nostalgic about older people or taking road trips in the area to see what hang outs are still operating or what's new. Even some of my high school friends don't remember some of the places we'd go. Times were different then, yet not so different. Just more discretion, more mischievous as opposed to evil.
As I mentioned yesterday, I attended my second cousin's funeral today. The church was packed with folks all dressed up in their finery. I guess I looked more like a hillbilly, but my cousin and my aunt were thankful that my sister and I came. We sat and chatted quite a while before the service, and my aunt spoke to me about her sisters, besides my mama, one has already gone home to be with our Lord, and the other is forgetting things, but at 90+ she does remarkably well. Later my cousins from my older aunt told me that we all needed to get together, because the only time we see each other has been at funerals. This is the third time in three years. When our grandparents were alive we would all get together on Sundays to eat dinner. So I grew up with my cousins, but as we aged, and I moved 2,000 miles away, things changed. On my mother's side, there were eight children. Only three remain. On my daddy's side all three siblings are deceased. My cousins on daddy's side still live close by, but one died last year and so did his wife. I never had the chance to meet her. My dad had three sisters, who raised him after his mama died when he was very young.
I miss times when families grew up together, lived close, and visited each other routinely. I miss Sunday meals together and special get-togethers, like holidays or birthdays. When I lived in New Mexico, it was the same. As long as the patriarch and matriarch of the family were living, everyone gathered. But if one died, then things changed, and when both died, everything changed. Just like here in the south. It's a shame. I always loved the Walton family on television, with grandpa and grandma living with their son and his wife and all the passel of children. They had their problems and disagreements, but they remained together at the big table, that grew bigger as the family grew larger, living in the home of the grandparents, that was passed down from generation to generation as well, I guess.
I remember when my mama passed away, before daddy. She'd been sick a while, and daddy cared for her and loved her until her dying day. They were always together, and for the most part, did things together. Mama didn't drive. Oh, she tried once and ended up in a ditch. No more attempts after that! She put us in the car, my brother, sister, and I, and she drove us around the block. When we arrived back, she missed the driveway. The driveway is wider now. I really miss my parents, and I regret that I couldn't spend more time with them. Living in New Mexico, almost 2,000 miles away, and working a full time job, didn't afford me much time, but I tried to come twice a year. Since I moved back in October 2021, I have not returned to New Mexico. My daughter still lives there, plus my friends, so I need to go. It seems as if time goes by so quickly, and it makes me realize how important it is to redeem the time.
There's so much loneliness in the world. People are unhappy, never content, always searching for more. Families are so important, and rather than talk about getting together, we need to do it. My sister and I are going to try to formulate a plan.
Recently, I've been praying about how my time is spent. I've not been well since Christmas, so I really haven't been to either my knitting group or my dolls group. I miss the ladies, but I am beginning to wonder whether I am meant to continue on. Today I was talking to Abba about the trauma care needs in Israel for the children and the adults, but the children need so much healing, and they are not able to articulate their grief as easily as adults. I remembered when I used to design memory bears. I wondered if this might be a help, a memory. ICEJ (International Christian Embassy Jerusalem) has trauma horses, a petting zoo, and will be setting up trauma rooms, and other services for the children. Right now the young adults are fasting and praying for the youth in Israel, including bridging the gap between Arabs and Jews. Churches are praying for the Arab population, and there is so much going on on a daily basis to try to unite Israeli and Arabs and deal with trauma. We have so much work to do.
I don't like to see or think about anyone being sad and alone. Although I lived by myself for many years, I rather enjoy being here with my son. Sure, it's an adjustment, but life changes all the time. Serving others is always a place I love to be. I learned from the best - my grammy, my mama, and a hosts of other moms and grandmothers who were friends. I count myself blessed.
Think about your family. Life's too short to live with unforgiveness, grievances, or whatever reason that would keep you apart. Just put yourself in the place of the one alone. How much is it worth to you to see another person smile?!
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