Heritage

Remembering…

Maybe it’s a little strange, but I like to visit cemeteries. I don’t mean to be morbid. I just think it’s nice that we have a tradition in our culture of erecting permanent monuments in tribute to our loved ones who have gone before us. Even when I don’t know the people I am fascinated to read their headstones, wondering what their lives were like.

Last week, when we were in Arkansas, I asked my husband if he would mind taking me out to the cemetery where my dear grandparents are buried. This was the first time I had been in the area since Granddaddy passed away almost 3 years ago, and I wanted to put flowers on their grave.

It’s a remote little cemetery back on a dirt road in the Ozarks, not far from where my grandparents lived and ministered for more than 40 years. It was a foggy, frosty day so no one else was around. I enjoyed the stillness as I reflected on the Godly heritage my grandparents have left me and their many other descendants.

Today is Grandmother’s 93rd birthday. She’s been gone 11 1/2 years, but her influence on my life is as fresh as if she were still with us. As I strolled around their old home place (now my parents’ home) those few days last week, I could almost hear her asking the children to help her out with a “little job”… or interestedly inquiring after the neighbors in the area… or praying fervently for various ones in the family…

When I grow up I’d like to be just like Grandmother!

5 Comments

  • Marjorie (Molly) Smith

    What a sweet post. I don't think it's morbid at all to like to visit cemeteries. I love to go to the little out of the way long forgotten sites. You can learn so much about the people who lived in the area from what was written on their markers.
    Molly

  • Constance

    Grandmothers have an amazing influence! My paternal Grandmother and I were very close and I miss her a lot! She would have been 96 this year and has been gone for over 9 years! I always want my grandchildren to know how much this GIGI loves them and loves spending time with them! Our oldest grand-daughter is actually our step grand-daughter and we don't get to see her as often but whenever she's around I am always hugging and loving her up! I don't want her to feel any distinction b/c of the situation.

    I too enjoy looking at old headstones in old cemeteries. I discovered an interesting thing a few years ago when I was arranging and organizing old photos in my scrapbooking area. I came across a photo I had taken almost 30 years ago of a child's headstone in a cemetery near Branson. I had forgotten that I ever took this photo. The little girl was * 3 when she died and her first and middle name was Laura Louise something or other. The creepy thing, like I said I had forgotten about seeing this, Dave and I have a 21 year old daughter named Laura Louise!!!! Louise was my MIL's middle name and Laura was the only name that the 2 of ous couold agree upon!

    Connie

  • Annette

    I too love visiting cemetaries; any of them. When my grandmother passed 2 years ago (she was 99) I was able to visit the graveside of my great grandmother (whom I remember, she was 104) and great grandfather. It is a cemetary in Arlington VA. Lots of old stones and monuments.

  • Aliene

    Must run in the genes. I like to visit cemeteries also. No so much right now but I did go to bring flowers before Christmas for Maw-Maw and Paw. Wasn't easy, as I can't imagine Mom being gone yet.
    I had to keep reminding myself that she really wasn't there. Guess I'm a little morbid today.

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