Long Line of Love

This past Christmas I spent five incredible days with my grandmother-Nani. It was just me and Nani...two single women at very different stages of life. We talked, laughed, cried, watched old movies, cooked, and just spent time together. It was one of the most refreshing holidays I think I have ever had. Throughout the weekend, almost everytime we came into contact with another person we were told how much alike we look like. It was amazing. No one has ever really told us that before. But, this was also my first time to so much time alone with her. It was such a wonderful compliment to be told I look like, for you see..Nani is beautiful. She has amazing skin for her 70 years, and she has a beautiful crown of snow white hair.

Since leaving her house, this experience has stayed with me. I've thought quite a bit about whether or not anything else about her can also be seen in me. Do I have the same sweet spirit that she does? Do I have the patience that she demonstrates as she still takes care of her 98 year old mother? Do I show the same hospitality that she often shows to so many people?

While thinking of all of this I was reminded of an old song entitled "Long Line of Love." Unfortunately, I do not rememeber who sang it, but I do remember the premise of the song. A man in the song is getting married, and with the approaching wedding is feeling some anxiety about whether or not he is ready to love forever. He watches his grandparents and parents and realizes he comes from a long line of love. In the second verse, this man's son, waiting to walk down the aisle, shares similar fears with his father. The man tells his son about the long line of love that preceeds him.

I've always loved this song because it doesn't tell you life will be easy, but it emphasizes approaching life with an attitude of love. The song gives much recognition to the love the goes before us. The preceeding love has taught us how to love going forward.

In this day in age it is becoming all too common for individuals to lack this long line of love. Due to this, I am more and more thankful that I have a long line of love preceeding me, teaching me how to go through life. Even though I am not approaching marriage, the love that has gone before me wraps around me and carries me through. I have so much to learn from my elders, and I am thankful to be able to spend time with them.

I pray that the love (and faith) of grandmother, much like her looks, resides somewhere deep inside of me.

"I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also."

2 Timothy 1:5