Tuesday, May 19, 2009

A Fine Inheritance



It took nearly a year of living here, to realize that this rarely visited but dearly loved park of my childhood is just a few miles away.


Edward and I enjoyed it so much in the afternoon, that we went back with Brady after dinner.

I saw this quote on one of the signs near the meadow, and it was all I could do to swallow back that telltale lump of verklempedness.

If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in.
-Rachel Carson

I have been piled high with blessings, and they have come in the form of wondrous, genuine and quietly powerful people. They have cast the most beautiful kind of light on my life.
The beacon of my childhood was my maternal grandmother. If ever one human could be held responsible for my sense of joy, wonder and mystery of this world- it is she. If ever a single person ignited my imagination, fostered the belief that all things are possible, that laid the foundation for a relationship with God Himself- it is she. Always teaching, encouraging, and confidently expecting me to contribute, understanding that even the smallest child needs to feel useful and capable... she passed down to me a wealth that can never be spent, only cultivated and shared, the gifts of love and encouragement that grow and spread with use.
I miss her more, yet feel more connected to her, with every bending violet, with each waving meadow, with every winding path and all the lilies of the valley, I ache and stretch in a growing way each time I see the sun filtering through the leaves, casting rays into the cool shadows. I've no doubt she is resting in perfection. And, still, she is more here with me than ever before.

3 comments:

Maryl said...

beautifully said. If I can transfer even a part of that to my grandchildren, I will be content.

Eralda LT said...

This is beautiful, Sunny! And so inspiring - to be the best parent and friend.

Sunny said...

Rest easy Maryl, no doubt you have passed along a heritage of kindness, patience and generosity that will surely stick with your grandkids for a lifetime :)