 |
| My sister-in-law Goldie and her family |
I
am the youngest of five. And the only one left. I was born “way on behind” as
they say in Pennsylvania Dutch. My siblings ranged from eight to 15 years
older. At Christmastime, the baby of
the family got gifts from everyone!
 |
| Ruth, Marie, Russell, Robert with me on my dad's lap. |
I
once discovered a tissue-wrapped package in my sister Ruth’s room. I could read
the letters on the box—x-y-l-o-p-h-o-n-e—but didn’t know what they spelled.
But I could read the name
on the tag and couldn’t wait to open my gift. Played that instrument till its glass tubes broke.
Robert, Goldie's husband, was over six feet tall. He swung me up till my
head touched the kitchen ceiling and I giggled and squiggled out of his reach. He was also the speedy one. He once rounded the curve going into Herndon, hit ice
and landed four wheels on the floor of the roller rink.
Actually,
it was Russell who was called “Speedy,” although he never would tell me why. He
was the farmer. His hair had a tinge of red, and when he grew a beard for a
local bicentennial, his whiskers grew in red. So spiffy.
Ruth
and Marie looked gorgeous as they dressed for dates, and in those days—you
dressed! Taffetas and heels. Our washbowl was at the back of our
kitchen, so I watched them comb out their pin curls, smooth their pompadours
and powder their noses. Marie was an artist, and we sat on our bed, her with
her drawing board and me copying her drawings on my tablet.
 |
| Goldie's children: Craig, Lisa, Janet, Linda, Judy, Todd |
Once
my siblings married, they all visited our farm on Sunday afternoons.
Winters, we cut ice from the creek to make homemade ice cream, topped
with my mother’s homegrown frozen strawberries. Summers, they sat on
the porch and chatted while their kids explored the attic and barn. In time, my
kids joined them. We worried they would hurt themselves, climbing into hay
mows, etc., but they all survived.
Family
is precious. And through the years, I’ve done all I could to maintain contact
with my siblings’ families.
Fifty
years ago Bill and I began hosting summer picnics for our clans. We provided
the meat and everyone else brought a covered dish. When the numbers of guests climbed
into the 30s and the set up and clean up got to be too much, we rented a
facility. When I could no longer provide the main dish for the group, we
purchased the meat. And we eventually asked the younger generation to take over
everything. The picnics continue to this day--on both sides of our family.
Once
we got older, since my siblings weren’t much into visiting, I hosted annual
dinners at my house for my siblings and spouses.
At
Christmastime, I mail cards to each family unit. And I receive cards from most,
if not all. We keep
up on Facebook too.
 |
| Goldie with Grand/Great Grandkids |
Maintaining
family contact is important. The world may be against me, but my family loves
and supports me, no matter what. We stand by each other’s bedsides during
illnesses. We cheer each other on through challenges. And we’re there for each
other through personal setbacks.
Yes,
it takes deliberate planning and some hard work, especially if knots appear in
family ties. But it’s well worth the effort.
“A new
command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one
another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one
another.” (John 13:34-35 – NIV)
Loving one another begins at home. Thank God for
your family, and reach out and touch a family member today. Look for an excuse
to plan a family get-together. You’ll be blessed.
Scroll down and click on the link below to leave a comment about what
you do to knit family ties.
Sincerely,
Shirley
Upcoming
Friends of the Heart Engagements:
June
23, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – With Wenksville United Methodist Church, Biglerville,
for Women’s Retreat, “What Every Girl Needs: Refuge, Redemption, Restoration
and a Few Good Recipes.”
No comments:
Post a Comment