1…2…3…4…5!!!

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Today we visited Abby’s great-great-grandmother Faye in truly rural Hollis, Oklahoma.

(Seriously. This place is so rural, a Sonic can’t even survive there.)

However, this is one of my favorite places to be—all five generations in the same room—just being together. No expectations. No obligations. Just enjoying each others’ company. (Even if I did miss the memo about wearing blue…)

I like to pick up stories along the way—there are plenty to go ‘round in this group! And along with the stories often comes rich history and much wisdom. I love that my daughter has such a rare opportunity to be a part of this…

I feel like my generation is missing out.

With such an abundance of technology and increasingly busy schedules, something has to give. I think spending time with older generations is one of those things that has gone by the way-side. And when we do spend time with them, how many times do we check our phones to make sure we aren’t missing our next activity—or God forbid something happen on Facebook and we miss it!

“These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to take care of their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands…In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely in all they do…” (Titus 2:4-6)

How can this happen if we don’t spend time with the very people that are supposed to be teaching us?

Just a couple of thoughts/challenges…

1)   Call your grandparents. (Today if you can…right now is good).

2)   Look at your life. Who is pouring into you—who are you learning from?

3)   Who are you pouring into—who are you teaching?

(Hint: If you can’t think of anybody in either of these categories, you need to find someone!)

Stephanie

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5 responses to “1…2…3…4…5!!!”

  1. You are truly blessed to have 5 generations together at one time! I wish I had spent more time with my grandparents when I had them…to ask more about their childhood and having children and their dreams and struggles. I remember when my grandmother’s alzheimer’s started. She couldn’t remember what happened 5 minutes ago but could remember courting my grandfather so I’d get her to talk about that with me and she would light up! In the process, I got to hear about her as a young woman and how my grandfather converted from Judaism to Catholism to marry her! Family stories are treasures. Ask now before it’s too late!

    • Thanks for your comment, Lisa! I’m sorry you had to go through the experience of Alzheimer’s with a loved one. It is a difficult thing, but I am glad that you got to hear some of the stories that make up your own history!

      It is truly fascinating how the mind does hold onto long-term memory.

      My husband and I will sing and play when we go sometimes, and we usually wind up playing hymns. One of the ladies that has worked there for years said “I hope that other young people know hymns like this. I’ve seen so many times where an individual doesn’t recognize their own family, but can sing along to every verse of a hymn.”

      Just another one of those things that I hope we figure out soon.

  2. I love this post Stephanie. I had an awesome relationship with my maternal grandparents before they died! I can’t wait to meet my paternal grandparents in heaven because of this.

    My dad has a crippling disease, Parkinson’s. He is in the latest stages rights now. He doesn’t remember people, he can not communicate well and his body is rigid and unresponsive most of the time. However, when the chaplain visits, he “comes back to earth.” He sings hymns and responds to every story she reads from the scripture.

    One particularly horrible evening, not long ago, my mother related to me on the phone. Dad had fallen and lay on the floor for many hours. He was not in pain. She put a pillow under his head and a blanket on top of him. He was very sad and refused to “try” and get up. My mother was weeping after a few hours and she wanted so badly to go to bed. He heard her say to him from another room, “David, we can’t go to church if you don’t try to move and get ready for bed.” He immediately stood up and walked into the bedroom to change for church. She had not seen him move so normally in two years. The doctors had no explanation for the behavior. How could such a frail individual behave so differently with such sudden determination?

    In every strange case the element that motivates my father is Christ. He has never forgotten his one true love of all time. I pray that if I ever die with such horrible hardships, I will also never forget Christ.

    • Parkinson’s is definitely a burden, and yet your father’s faith shines through. It’s so amazing–you are so blessed to have such a great example, even if the hardship he goes through is difficult and probably confusing at times. Your family is in my prayers, for sure. It is truly fascinating what can motivate a mind that can’t be otherwise…from what I’ve seen, it typically seems to be faith of some sort. Faith and children.