Legacies.
This word has been in my heart today.
What we leave IN our children is more important than what we leave behind. Our material things mean nothing in the long run but our what matters is our values and the amount of love that we have scattered. Those intangible sparkly things.
I have written of these things before but now they come back to me because today my father's father died after a long battle with cancer. And I have spent the day pondering his legacy and wishing that I knew what it was.
Wishing that I knew those men, not in a feeling sorry for myself kind of way, but in a bitter sweet way that helps me to know that I will plant a better garden.
That I will try to be more like Pam.
Good bye Grandpa Bill Sutton.
January 15th
One year ago today I began to eat differently. It is called the Ketogenic diet and the information is out there for free ...
In your role as foster parent, you will plant many seeds that will eventually spread far and wide. I have no doubt that, coming from you, they will be good ones.
ReplyDeleteMy sympathies on the death of your grandfather, even if you didn't know him.
Sorry that you didn't know him, maybe it was a good thing. We just have no way of knowing doing we.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely...we need to focus daily on what reflection we have on others.
I try hard to keep this in mind.
Love ya
TJ
Christina,
ReplyDeleteSorry for your loss... I never knew you had a Grandpa still living on your Father's side...
I hope the reunion with his son is an awesome event for both of them.
You are in my Prayers...
xoxo
Christina, I'm sorry about your loss ... potential energy not sent forth ... shame. Glad you had good women! Take it easy today ... a loss is still a loss ... grief.
ReplyDeleteAnn
I`m sorry for your loss, Christina. His legacy lives on through your good works.
ReplyDeleteHugs and prayers.
V
Up until 2003 ALL of my grandparents and step grandparents were still living....
ReplyDeleteThey were all very young when I was born...
You and the love you feel for others are his legacy - and isn't that an amazing one!
ReplyDeleteCharley
http://journals.aol.com/cdittric77/courage
Christina,
ReplyDeleteI agree with the first posting that your work as a foster parent will create a legacy.
Now that I am 33, I think about my mother. She was 33 years old when she was diagnosed with cancer and died when she was 36 (I was 10).
But Christina, just as you pointed out in your eloquent posting, the first seven years of my life when my mother stayed home with me have done so much to make me the person I am today.
I spent more time with my mother than my father, who of course had to work, or my younger brother (by the time he was 3, she was so sick she barely spent time with him).
From my mother, I learned:
1.) Creativity
2.) Love of reading and writing
3.) Love of music
4.) Love of learning
5.) Appreciation of nature
I first began teaching children to read when I was in the 6th grade.
My mother had died over the summer. I had retreated from my classmates into a world of books.
The school, in a wise decision, responded to my bookworm tendencies by pairing me with a second-grader named Samantha, who was struggling to learn how to read.
Samantha's mother had cancer - the same disease that had stolen my mother. I spent an hour teaching her every day.
I taught Samantha how to read, using many of the same techniques that my mother used with me:
1.) Flash cards of letters
2.) Flannel stories to show her that stories had a sequence ( a beginning, a middle and an end).
3.) Showing her that reading was fun (now, we call this "print motivation).
4.) Having her put the felt letters I created onto the flannel board to spell words.
5.) Helping her to sound words out and tell me whether or not they rhyme (now, we call this "phonological awareness.")
My mother wasn't perfect. Each one of us is flawed in some way. My mother was anorexic, tempermental and desperately sad.
But even today, in my day job as a children's librarian, I see the seeds she planted when I was just a small child -- and I wish that I could thank her.
For you, Christina, you will definitely create positive legacies in many people's lives.
I am so glad to have met you through this venue.
Sweetie,
ReplyDeleteYou will plant wonderful seeds and your children will grow up with fond memories that they will treasure for a life time. They will do this because you are a good, decent and a loving Foster Mom.
How sad that Bill's children and grandchildren have very little that they can treasure. Most have nothing at all...
I hope that by the grace of God he is able to rest in peace.
Love,
Mom
Christina,
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear about your grandfather. Your family will be in my thoughts and prayers. Please take care.
Jaime
From what I can see your garden is just fine. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteSpencer
I'm sorry for your loss honey. I hope you are all okay...
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't worry so much of your legacy. I very much think that your love and charity, your faith and kindness will be great teachers to all who know you....
Hugs.
Next time someone asks you what the meaning of life is ... remind them that it is not necessarily procreation, wealth or power. Its all about the continuation of spirit. My parents tell me that My son is a mirror of my grandfather.
ReplyDeleteI can relate to what you say here. I lost my last grandparent back in October. She and I were somewhat estranged, though there were not really hard feelings between us, so much as a general lack of connection.
ReplyDeleteI never knew either grandfather because they died before I was born. My other grandmother, whom I was very close to, died when I was twelve.
To the extent that part of one's legacy is the family he leaves behind, I'd say that you are living proof that he has a very positive legacy.
::hugging you tightly and whispering that your legacy will be one of compassion and goodness::
ReplyDeleteNikki
Emailing you...
ReplyDelete