The Legacy of Beloved Grandparents

The Legacy of  Beloved Grandparent's

From my earliest baby memory you were there
smiling at me with your pleasant faces and love filled eyes
I reached for you to hold me and tell me stories of a time
before me, and to hear with great interest the thoughts
of your long years in memories, and of lessons you learned.

You took me places with you through the stories you told
over excellent meals and too many pleasant snacks, and to
actual places like museums, skating rinks, and to Church with you.
You taught me along with my parents the art of treating others
with love and respect, and treating them how I longed to be treated.
We sat in the houses of neighbors, and provided a listening ear or a
helping hand, and I learned with the watchful eyes of a child, just
how special you really were and are to me, and why others loved
you almost or just as much as me.

No amount of time with you was enough, and I always enjoyed
the sounds of your voices, the laughter, the warmth of your presence,
the joy in my heart of being with you, because you were filled with
the light of love and others felt it too. My brothers and cousins, always
looked forward to spending time with you and did what we needed
to do to spend as much time as we could with you in conversation,
combing your hair, lending a hand when you needed it, or just being comforted when
we were sad. You were all those things and more, and I thank God
for blessing me with you in my life.

But all to soon you were gone, before I reached the beginning of my adult years,
your light was no longer present. And I did not deal well with your loss. I now know
That it was your time but as a child all I knew then was that a great
light was taken from my life. Your encouraging words, your love
filled hearts were gone, you are with God now. But even though
that was many years ago I miss you still.

If there are only a few lessons I have learned from the few short years
you were in my presence, it was to love others as I loved myself, to
know I was loved by you, and that you wanted me to succeed even
if I didn't always do so. And that I must live life to please God, and to
honor you as well by doing so. I will always love you, and I see you in
the laughter of my baby cousins, and nieces and nephews. I experience
your legacy, when I am able to smile at something pleasant that happens,
and in memory of you. I see you in my parents, who miss you, and feel as
orphans, as does my beloved Aunts and Uncles.

But I know I will see you again, and my job is to not let you down while
I draw breathe upon this earth, because it's all for LOVE~L.O.V.E.

By Renee Smith