The Pearls We Pass Down
by Holley Gerth
Ten years ago my Grandma Frances went home to heaven in her sleep just before Christmas.
My
Grandpa carefully handed me a brightly-wrapped box on Christmas morning
and said, "This is her gift. Now I want you to have it."
I opened the lid slowly and tears came to my eyes as I saw a lovely string of pearls.
My
Mom gently helped me fasten them around my neck. As I ran my fingers
over each one, I thought of my Grandmother and all she taught me
through her life…
1 Corinthians 13:13
FAITH
At
age twenty-nine, my Grandma contracted polio and learned she would
never walk again. She had a husband, two little girls, and a future
suddenly very different than she imagined.
A
pastor came to visit her in the hospital. He said, "Frances, this can
make you bitter or better." She often told that story with a sparkle in
her eyes as she said, "I chose better." I learned through her example
that faith is a choice and with God we can thrive through anything.
HOPE
My
grandparents took a leap of faith and started the first Christian
bookstore in their city with a small kiosk in the center of a mall.
Over the next few decades that little kiosk grew into a large and
successful store that touched countless lives.
Many of my
favorite childhood memories are of curling up in the back room with a
stack of books. My Grandma taught me hope is like a small seed and,
watered with prayer, it can grow into a huge blessing for many.
LOVE
For
fifty-six years my grandparents shared a life together. I adore these
two pictures because one is taken when they were dating and the other
just a few weeks before she died. The twinkle in their eyes is still
the same-and that's not easy in this world. They faced their share of
challenges, like my Grandma's disability, but always got through them
together.
My
Nana also loved her family deeply. When I went to college, she often
wrote notes to me and signed each one, SCTH (Stay Close to Him). She
showed me love is a commitment that begins with Christ and then
overflows to everyone else in our lives.
I
still miss my Grandma Frances, especially this time of year. Sometimes
I pull out her string of pearls and hold them in my hands. Then I think
about how we're all creating our legacy as we live. And while the
difficulties we face may seem hard to understand now, God can turn each
one into beauty that blesses our family for generations.
Holley Gerth – Cofounder of (in)courage, editorial director for DaySpring, author of Rain on Me, wife of Mark, lover of Jesus, friend to YOU.
Visit Holley at Heart to Heart with Holley or follow her on twitter as @HolleyGerth.
A
three strand pearl necklace will be given away on New Year's Day. All
you need to do to have a chance of winning is leave a comment here.
Come back on New Year's Day to see if you won!
