This past weekend my niece got married. It was a wonderful wedding, and after dancing the evening away, I realized the following morning (quite painfully) that I wasn't twenty anymore. {sigh}
But that is not the meat of my post, just an ugly aside.
Our children are scattered from coast to coast. The nearest are about 125 miles away, the farthest is about 2500 miles away. They were all excited for their cousin and wanted to come home for the wedding. Three of our four children made the appropriate arrangements. Our other daughter was unable to come. She's pregnant, working, her husband is in Officer Candidate School in the Marines and away for 10 weeks, it just wouldn't work.
The week before the wedding, the eldest (and farthest away) called her sister and brother who were also coming home. She suggested to them that it is extremely hard for our scattered family to get together anymore. Why didn't the 3 of them offer to fly their sister home for the wedding and as a surprise to my wife and myself. They all thought it was a great idea and phoned their pregnant sister to see if she could get off work if they bought her an airplane ticket home for the weekend.
Unfortunately, our daughter wasn't able to get the time off work.
When our eldest told us of their little plan, I was touched. I just sat and smiled as I thought back on how they picked on each other growing up. How they would scream and fight with each other over some of the dumbest things.
And I thought of now. They aren't around each other very often, although we do all keep in touch. They all have a deep love of family. It warms my heart knowing that my wife and I, with our parents, uncles, aunts and grandparents have managed to pass to the next generation the love of God, each other, and family.
I just wanted to let those younger to know, that even with all the fussin' and feudin' our kids do as they grow up, they do grow out of it (eventually) and learn to appreciate each other. Just love 'em, teach them to love God, teach them right from wrong, teach them to love family and teach them to stand on their own two feet, knowing you are there to catch them if they fall.
It will all be okay, someday.
