From Generation to Generation

Heritage: valued objects and qualities like traditions, that have been passed down from previous generations; legacy.

Check out these photos! They represent many lifetimes of memories — aunts and uncles reminiscing “the good old days”, memories of cousins playing together, of grandmas’ and grandpas’ stories of faith that sparked faith in their children and grandchildren.

We returned home yesterday from Fort Worth, TX where the Noble family had their annual family reunion. That is Grandparents, Russell & Ruth Noble’s side of the family. Two weeks prior, we were in Lubbock, TX where we attended the Mize reunion. That is Carl’s mother’s side of the family.

Carl and I were just dating when I attended his family’s reunion last year. There were 100 in attendance. This last weekend in Fort Worth were 140 family members: uncles, aunts, sisters, brothers, cousins and beyond. Carl asked me what I thought about this comradery, stick-togetherness, etc.

I admitted. I was jealous. I remember these kinds of get-togethers as a young child. The Wheats (my dad’s side of the family) and the Halberts (my mom’s side of the family), always came together for annual family reunions. That’s because our grandparents made it happen. No one younger than them carried on the tradition.

So to see my husband’s families intentionally putting forth the effort to bring the family together, is remarkable! The younger families (my children’s ages and younger) are equally passionate about carrying on the traditions.

There were lots of desserts made by the families. We paid the host for the meals brought in that fed us royally. There was a Silent Auction in which families donate something to add to it. The funds raised from the auction are placed in the “family fund” that financial gifts and miscellaneous gifts are given to family members in the hospital, or graduates or birthdays or new babies, and even for newly-marrieds (including us), etc.

A framed poem, pictured here, was given to the head of each of the first cousins. I loved this part:

“These siblings were close,
And wanted to stay in touch.
So the tradition began,
In ’69 with only a lunch.
But the event was so welcomed,
It grew like wild fire,
From a small group to many
To attending was a desire.

What I loved the most about this family-get-together was the most important tradition of serving God and teaching their children and their children’s children to love God and others. Obviously, the forefathers did a really good job…..because they passed it on. Shouldn’t we all be so intentional?

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 “The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You are to love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. Let these words that I’m commanding you today be always on your heart. Teach them repeatedly to your children. Talk about them while sitting in your house or walking on the road, and as you lie down or get up. Tie them as reminders on your forearm, bind them on your forehead, and write them on the door frames of your house and on your gates.”