Grandpa John

I had a dream last night.

My mother’s father was in it.

He smiled big, laughed with joy, and hugged me tight.

My husband and our children and grandchildren were there, too.

I was so excited to introduce each one to him.

But before I did Grandpa just kept one arm around me and looked into my face.

We were both enjoying getting to see one another.

Then, with a smile, he spoke, “You know, you are a real beauty.”

This caught me by surprise.

It also made me feel treasured.

I smiled back.

“Grandpa, of course you would think so. I look like my mother, your daughter, and she looks like her mother, Grandma Ruth.”

He laughed and squeezed me.

I went on to introduce him to our family.

When I awoke this morning, my heart felt rosy with love.

Because I didn’t grow up with grandparents.

My mother’s family are from Michigan and we’ve always lived on the West coast.

My father’s mother died when I was four, I have no memory of her.

My father’s father traveled a great deal and I can’t remember a single conversation he ever had with me.

He died when I was in highschool.

So, this dream was sweet for me.

Although, my memories of my mother’s father are fuzzy and less than the fingers on one hand, I remember him laughing and hugging me.

I was pretty small, small enough to sit on his knee.

But last night’s dream brought me a new gift.

I know it’s from God.

If I can feel blessed by a dream of my Grandfather’s kind words, what an impact my words can have in real life to those I love!

My grandchildren (I love saying that!) are an incredible opportunity.

To love them for Jesus, to teach them about God’s Word, what a wonderful heritage!

The same is true for my own children.

To love them daily, to make sure I am speaking words of encouragement.

To lovingly speak words of truth, and to stir up righteousness in them.

To pray for each one, lifting them before the Lord, that I might be centered on Christ’s will for them instead of my own ideas.

The legacy I can pass on does require being purposeful.

To be open to the LORD’s leading in the day-to-day things so I don’t plant weeds but seeds of life.

But I can’t think of anything more worthwhile than leaving a legacy of following Jesus.

I praise God for this dream of my grandfather.

It has reminded me of my value to Jesus and my opportunity to value others.

Our soul waits for the Lord ; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, Because we have trusted in His holy name.
Psalms 33:20‭-‬21 NKJV

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You so much for this encouragement. Thank You for reminding me of the truth, that I can pour into others as You pour into me. Lord, thank You for loving me more than any person on Earth, because it is in You I find myself, a child of God. Lord Jesus, please help my husband and I to be honorable parents and grandparents. Help us to live with integrity and humility. Please shine through us into those around us and our loved ones. Thank You so much for placing us near our grandchildren. We are so blessed to be a part of their lives and the lives of our children. Lord Jesus, may we bring honor and glory to Your name. Amen.

Heritage

We took this last March when Mom, Bell, Anne, and I flew out to the family farm in Michigan.

This flag is really really old and I wanted to remember it.

Before my grandparents purchased the farm it had been a dairy.

Liberty Dairy

It had this flag and a small stone replica of the Statue of Liberty.

It was so precious to give my children a chance to step into the heritage of my mother’s family.

We still have family who live and work the farm.

It’s a horse farm now where my aunt, uncle and cousins work at teaching people how to handle horses.

They also have a foundation which works super hard to get handicapped people on horses as part of their rehab or just to experience something different.

Our few days on the farm were a wonderful chance to show the kids another aspect that hard work and loving others is well worth it.

Mom and I were chatting yesterday about my father’s side of the family.

Daddy has been gone for 18 years yet I still like to review the stories of the family.

We were talking about how my great grandmother’s name was down as Bryant but there was a notation which stated it had been changed from O’Brian.

When was it changed?

Why was it changed?

No idea.

That part of the heritage is missing.

Yet I still smile when I think if the O’Brian because my father’s sister had told me many times as a child that I was related to an Irish princess and should therefore act the part.

I have no idea if it’s true or was her way of encouraging good behavior but it makes me smile.

Heritage is something which helps us feel connected and gives us roots.

Unfortunately not all the things in my family history are honorable or worth retelling.

Yet there is a heritage I’m always happy to share.

My greatest heritage, which I cling to with all that is in me, is my spiritual heritage.

The Bible clearly states those who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ become joint heirs in the kingdom of God.

That includes all the saints before us and all that will come.

Wow!

Now that is some heritage!

Dear Jesus,

Thank you Lord for causing even the orphan to be able to have a wonderful heritage. All that You ask in return is a life devoted to You. Father, please help me to pass on the heritage You have so graciously granted so others will also join in the family and become heirs in the kingdom of God!