The last session of our marriage conference was titled: Putting A Stake In The Ground: What Kind of Legacy Will You Leave?
Leaving a godly legacy requires developing a godly family.
Whoa. How do we do that??
Gregg and I did not grow up with godly parents that in turn, left us with a legacy to model to our children. (Yes, my dad did turn into a godly man in the end ~ but not completely ~ that is another post for another day).
We were told that what we do today will affect future generations.
Ouch.
So, we left that weekend confirming that we want to strive to be better examples of a followers of Christ, a husband and a wife and parents to our girls, and later true grandparents to our grandchildren.
We got home from our marriage conference Sunday afternoon. My mom and Earnie were sitting on the couch with their arms crossed waiting for us to get home. We weren't home five minutes and they were out the door going back to Georgetown. Clearly, they were interested in our weekend...
Our week started like normal with Gregg going back to work on Monday. The girls were in bed by 8 at night so we made an attempt to get together at 9 (so each of us could have some downtime 1st). We then cracked open our conference manuals, hashed some things we hadn't had a chance to discussed, prayed and just tried to spend some time together.
Then on Thursday at lunchtime, we got the phone call that one of our beloved family members had passed away. It was Howard otherwise known as "Papaw". Howard was Gregg's uncle's dad ~ his cousin's grandfather.
In theory, it sounds like a distant relative (no blood relation) but Gregg had known Howard his entire life. And I had grown to love him as well. Howard was a part of every family function when would visit.
Papaw and MacyDecember 2003
Papaw and PaigeFebruary 2007
We immediately knew we would plan to go to Lubbock for the funeral. And Gregg was honored to be a pallbearer.
The service was at the church where he had been a member of for around 40 years! The preacher talked of how Howard and his late wife, Oleta, had been faithful examples of followers of Christ, a godly couple, godly parents, godly grandparents and godly great-grandparents.
The preacher said how we were all part of Howard's leg-a-cy! (ding dong moment - yes sir God, I'm paying attention here!) Howard's children and grandchildren are all servants of the Lord ~ serving God with their talents, their time and their hearts.
Papaw had been to church the night he had passed away. At 78 years old, how awesome is that? Go to a Wednesday night service, then go home to be with the Lord and reunited with his wife!
What a blessed entrance he must have had.
Papaw Howard's death clearly was the culmination of our marriage conference. This revelation was one of the things Gregg and I hashed on the drive back to Arlington.
to be continued...
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