Two of the things I'm extremely grateful for are my parents. My mother passed away in 1982 and my father now lives in Vermont, so I unable to get a current picture of them, however, several years ago, I put together a scrapbook which featured the following tribute...
They were pair- Sherwood and Nancy. From the moment they met while vacationing in Nova Scotia with friends, they were connected. I can imagine what attracted them to each other. She was pretty. He was handsome. They had a mutual sense of humor and an interest to settle down and start a family. Mom was an elementary school teacher and Dad had just returned from serving in the Army and was working in NYC. When they fell in love, it was for keeps. I particularily remember how Dad would tease Mom as the Christmas holiday approached; feigning disinterest in the things she'd mention she'd like as gifts. She'd think he hadn't heard or didn't care, but then on Christmas morning, tears of love and delight would overflow from her eyes as she'd open gift after gift that he'd snuck into the house and hidden when she wasn't looking. Their lives were intertwined with one overriding goal: to love and nurture their children and provide them with a warm and happy childhood. They accomplished this and more. The deepness of their committment to one another never wavered. Through sickness and health, job changes and loss, they stood by each other and passed along the greatest lesson on love, apart from the ones I learned in Scripture, that I could ever know. Their time together was too short and I can only trust in God's sovereignty when I think of Mom's early death at 52. Some will quote Shakespeare, Bronte, or Mitchell's works as the greatest love stories across time. But those stories are merely fiction. I have seen a love story first hand and was truly blessed to be witness to it.
Today, I am grateful for the legacy of my parents.
@digitalrn Thanks Rick. This was actually part of a whole book I did about my life. My parents were a big reason why it's been the way it is. I'm very grateful for them and to them!
A beautiful tribute and a great love story. Your mum was so young when she departed this life. How sad for all of you, but what a fabulous impression she left behind, a great legacy!
@kkauter Thank you Kerrie- yes it was a shock when the Lord called her home and there are still times when I don't understand why, but I do trust that it was for the best. He knows more than I do (or ever will!). But sometimes I do wish she'd lived to see all of her grandchildren and now her great-grandchildren. She did leave a huge legacy, not just with our family but in all the lives she touched too. It took us three hours to get through the receiving line. She was truly a special person.
Your tribute was beautiful, Ann. How lucky they were to have found each other, and to pass that love to you. Such a legacy is priceless. Thanks for sharing.
@kelleybelly Elias I am honored that you are following me! I'm glad you feel this way about your parents!