The Last Great Generation

I've had a lot of time to think these last few months.  And I've pondered about GGPa.  I was so blessed to have this man be a part of my life for 8 years.  He was in his late 80's when I became part of his family, but it wasn't until his last 3 years that I really put forth that much effort.

You see, I was busy.  I had two kids.  There was always something more important calling for my attention.  All of these things are true.  And they are also so very sad. 

I was given this amazing gift.  Bill.  The man who became a grandfather to me, even though he didn't have to.  He became a great grandfather to my children.  He loved us.  He took my kids for rides on his electric wheelchair.

He stole food from the breakfast cart for us.  Because you see, even though he was 92 before I really got to know him, he didn't care.  I was his family.  And that meant that you provide.  He paid a lot to be in that retirement home.  And if he wanted to take an extra nutri-grain bar here and there, no one was going to ask.  And even from an electric wheelchair, he was doing all he could to make sure that we had everything he was able to give us.  His step-granddaughter.  And his step-grandchildren. 

His generation grew up knowing what it was to not have everything.  And I don't mean the way we think we have it now.  I'm not talking about the lastest THING.  I'm talking about food.  Food that you have to either grow or kill yourself.  That you had to take care of to feed yourself over the winter.  The clothes that you had needed to be taken care of.  There was no Walmart to run out to if you ruined your good clothes. 

Manners were something that everyone used.  People opened doors for one another.  They looked strangers in the eye and smiled.  They made room at the dinner table for a friend in need.  They could stretch their pennies in ways I can't even fathom.

I heard some of the stories of his childhood.  He had it pretty rough.  And yet he still told me many stories with a smile on his face.  They didn't need so much back then.  So much stuff.

He told me about all the jobs that he had.  He did almost everything that you can imagine.  Including fight for my freedom.  And he took it all in stride.  It wasn't something that he boasted about.  It was just what he did.  When he enlisted, they knew he was an excellent marksman, and they wanted him to be a sniper.  He refused.  He became part of the motorcycle brigade instead.  And he escorted royalty.  But that story has no more importance to him than the fishing he used to do.  He grew up when you took pride in a good day's work.  And you didn't complain about a full day of work if you ended the day with a full belly.

He had a wife that he loved with every ounce of his being.  For the first year I went to see him, he told me every single time that she was gone.  And that he was all alone now.  After the second year, I hope he didn't feel so alone, because then when I walked through that door, he just smiled.  He never said he was all alone anymore.  They always said that the most important thing in their marriage was to laugh.  They swear that in over 60 years of marriage they never fought.  They were on the same side.  And rather than say that it would just be easier to start over if something went wrong, they just united against the problem.  No talk to divorce.  No comparing that they weren't as good as that person's spouse.  It was them against the world.  All the way to her last breath.  I can only pray to have that in my marriage!

I can't imagine all that he saw in his lifetime.  I can't imagine 96+ years on this earth.  But I do know that I had the privilege of getting to know a man who is part of the last great generation.  They fought for freedom.  For everyone.  Every.  Last.  One.  Of.  Us.  Not for a certain colour.  Not for a certain belief.  They fought so that we could have freedom.  So that others could be safe.  Because 80 years ago, you stood up and did what was right. 

Thank you GGPa.  And to the last great generation.  I hope and pray that my generation can put forth even a fraction of the effort to be like them.  And provide for others whatever we can.  Let's make it less about how much stuff we can accumulate, but about how many lives we can change.  Let's fix things that are broken rather than just replacing it.  Let honor them be being the next generation to affect a positive change for the world.  And let's start with our little corner of the world.  I tell my kids every day that we were given more than we need so that we can share it with others.  Not because we get to brag about it later.  But because the generations before us made the world a better place by doing just that.

If you have a prayer request, or would just like to talk, leave a comment below.  I would be honored to lift you up in prayer.  And have a blessed day.

Don't count your days, make your days count!

A Call NOT to Judge

With so many things happening in our lives right now, with friends, with celebrities and with the world at large, there sure are a LOT of people who feel they have been called to judge and jury.

Now, once again, I am not saying I am perfect.  I am just as guilty as the person next to me, I'm sure.  But being just as guilty doesn't actually make it alright.  Doing what the person next to me is doing, and justifying my actions by believing that if the masses are doing it, it must be okay?  How did we get here? 

I have been a part of many conversations that made me feel like I was doing great in life, because at least I was/wasn't doing something that someone else was doing.  But I'm called to be me.  And to be a better me than I was yesterday.  I wasn't called to be better at my life than Sally is at hers.  I wasn't called to judge her and her abilities to be her.  She was called to be Sally.  I wasn't.  And just a note, I don't actually know "Sally".  That's why I chose that name.

With Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts galore, it is so easy to put our best selves forward.  But those certainly our full stories.  They don't always include our less than "pinterest perfect" moments.  Those moments we loose our cool.  Those moments we judge others as less than ourselves.  Those moments where we fail our friends because we are more concerned about beating Sally.  You know, those moments where we are merely human.  Less than perfect, work in progress, human.

And so I am writing this as a call for us to lift others up.  You know that marriage that you know is failing?  The one where you "think" you know all the details, but you can't.  That one with a lot of hurting people?  What about lifting them up in prayer?  What about offering to make a meal so that they can go to counselling?  What about pointing out all of the things that they have going for them as a couple?  What about reminding them of the good times that are so easily forgotten in the face of turmoil?  What if we could be there to hold them when they cry without taking those details to others?

For that challenging kid you know, what about speaking truth into their life?  What about taking a few minutes to show them you care?  Or that you understand?  What if you could share a part of your struggles with them that would make them feel less alone?  Or what if you could just show them unconditional love? 

That cashier/customer service person/other driver on the road?  Maybe they've just gone through something unimaginable.  Maybe they just need a kind word and a smile today.  Maybe you could be the person that can do that for them.  Or maybe the best you can do is just not be another nail in the coffin of their bad day and keep your mouth shut (a la Bambi's mom "if you can't say anything nice..."). 

Maybe some days seem like they are truly a gift from God.  Maybe everything is going perfectly for you now.  Maybe you forgot to count your blessings last night before you went to bed.  Or maybe you didn't.  The great days are part of what keeps us going on those not so great days.  Cherish them. 

We are all struggling in this world.    Every single one of us.  Not all on the same day.  On that day you aren't struggling, you have a unique ability to not be staring at others through hurt.  Do something with that.  And if you are that hurt person, never forget that no matter how bad it may seem now, there is someone, somewhere who is struggling to take their last breath.  Thinking about all of those could haves, should haves, and would haves that can no longer be changed.

So maybe, rather than worrying about Sally, maybe we should help her.  Or Joe.  Or Jane.  Or someone whose name you don't even know yet.  Maybe you'll be the one to change their entire world.  And maybe you won't even know it.