My Grandmother was the original scrap-booker! She saved everything! One of the things that my dad sent to me after Grandma's funeral was some of her scrapbooks. It was really fun to look through the books and remember fun times we had together. Her scrapbooks include the usual things such as pictures, newspaper clippings, plane tickets, theater programs, and personal letters. But they also include carefully placed birthday candles, leaves, dried flowers, small rocks, and even a nail found in Colorado!
Flipping through one of the books I came to pictures and newspapers clippings from Mexico and my eyes filled with tears. My grandmother was instrumental in forming a Medical Mission Team in her church. She was a retired nurse and she recruited doctors and dentists to be a part of the team. Over several years they took trips to south Texas, crossing the border during the day, to administer health care, dental care, eye care, and hair care to the people of the small border towns of Mexico. I knew she had done this because I had heard her stories over the years; but I had never actually seen the pictures. Seeing them this day it occurred to me the power we have as parents and grandparents to leave a legacy for our children, grandchildren, and beyond.
My grandmother always prayed that one of her grandchildren would be a Pastor or a Missionary. She told this to me one day when I was about four years old and my immediate response was "Not me!" Prayer is powerful, and God honored her request. Several of her grandchildren and great grandchildren are involved in full-time ministry today. All of them are active in their churches using their gifts for God's glory.
The reason I loved the pictures from Mexico is because it was proof of the legacy she started and passed on to her family; physical evidence of her love of God, her love of other people, and her heart to serve. She led the way and now we continue where she left off.
Here are a few pictures of what she started...
Grandma in Acuna, Mexico
Laura and Mark in Managua, Nicaragua
David in Haiti
Sydneyann in Burundi, Africa
Sarah in La Carpio, Costa Rica
Ashley in La Carpio, Costa Rica
"I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother... and your mother... And I know that same faith continues strong in you." 2 Timothy 1:5
God wants us to leave a legacy. What will your's be?
What a great testimony of your grandmother's life and the legacy that she left. What a celebration in heaven when she arrived home! And you and your family are continuing in her footsteps. How especially blessed is that? I only wish that God had chosen me to be born into a Christian home, but that was not His plan for me. I am so thankful that it was His plan that I would be saved later in life. I cannot imagine going through the rest of my life without Christ as my Savior and Bridegroom! He is here for me every day just as He is for you! Jeanne
ReplyDeleteSo Powerful! You know Laura, I had no idea Auntie Fern did all this. I regret that I didn't know more about her life... I would of loved to of gleaned from her. I will ponder on your question "What will your legacy be"... powerful.
ReplyDeleteThat's the kind of legacy I hope to leave...I wish I could have met your grandma...guess I'll have to wait till later. :-)
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