CONSIDER HERITAGE-SHARING

Of all the influential women in my early years, several stand out. Mother, enough said. Gena, a grandmother who nurtured my love for reading at every turn. Mrs. Munday, my 4th grade teacher who helped me, a crying 10 yr. old, with "complicated" division. Christine, my across the street neighbor, who was like a grandmother to me.

But...it was my maternal grandmother, Mama Davenport, who was my spiritual mentor, before I even knew what that was. With her gnarled arthritic hands clasped in prayer and her humming in the kitchen as she stirred up stewed tomatoes in her white enamel saucepan with the red rim, her quiet gentle spirit spoke volumes. Her willingness to "walk" up that 2nd street hill to church every Sunday because she didn't drive and Dang-Dang would not take her. 

I've not known many women I could label as "never complaining," but Mama was a the top of that list. (1Timothy 6:6)

Her well worn Bible is one of my treasures and her underlined verses have offered much insight in to her suffering and her trust in the Lord. My other treasure is my heritage snowball bush.....

...which had its beginnings from her childhood home in Hampton Station, Kentucky. From there to Clarksville, TN, to my parents' home in Hopkinsville, Ky to my home in Memphis, TN, the bush is a living legacy of a small graceful woman who was and still is in many ways, my spiritual mentor.

A snowball  bush that has been propagated and cultivated throughout Memphis and to our son's home in Texas and most recently to our daughter's home in Richland Estates.

Not only do I love that this bush will be cultivated with love and spiritual memories, I love it that Molly and Corey's dog who is checking it out is named Millie. Millie was Daddy's pet name for mother. If he was getting really sassy he would call her Millie Lou.

What a legacy of love came to my mind as I typed. What a great heritage I have been given.
My "heritage snowball bush" is but a reminder to open her Bible and consider the best underlined passages to  share---not only with my children but also with my "grands," (Proverbs 13:22) as the heritage of the upright will abide forever.(Psalm 37:18, AMP)

A Life Well-Lived

 “Life well-lived” was the phrase I heard several times at today’s  funeral for Dr. A.B. “Bud” Weir. 

A God-honoring life. 

A life devoted to his wife and service to others. 

A life that embodied Micah 6:8……as for many years both he and his wife, Sunny, walked humbly with their God. 

Fully devoted, faithful to the Lord and faithful to each other. 

On fire for God. Follower of Jesus Christ.

I know this to be true because of the heritage I have seen in Dr. Weir’s children and in the grandchildren whom I know. Bud Weir “walked his talk” as the pastor said, and passed the spiritual baton on to each of his four children.

He shared his life in love and service to family, friends and many others whose paths he crossed. He shared his faith that never wavered, and he shared his hope that was based on eternal truth from God’s word.

In essence, Dr. Weir's legacy outlives his life because his family carries on the spiritual impact left by their father. 

That, my friends, is truly “a life well lived!”

FAMILY RESEMBLANCE

(Circa 1964 or '65)

 4/28/12 As children of the Clifton “Brud” Adams family, people often commented that though we (my brothers and I) looked like family, & yet individually, none of us really resembled either of our parents. 

When we got together with our spouses this weekend, it was still pretty obvious that we are indeed related---more because of our idiosyncratic behavior than physical appearance. Just ask our spouses!

How fun to get together with kin---to reminiscence and celebrate family. In particular, for us, the key is acceptance. Warts and all----we are family. That’s why is was so fun to get together this weekend and go see “The Addams Family” (“snap, snap”) at the Orpheum.

As the lyrics of the opening melody rang out

You're obligated to the clan

It's family first and family last

And family by and by

When you're an Addams

The standard answers don't apply

When you're an Addams

You do what Addams do for us (Adams) that would be laugh and EAT!)

In same positions as sibling portrait---my how the "baby" has grown.

As Christians, we bear the name of Christ though certainly all of us “look” very different. It’s our actions, attitudes and even mannerisms that reflect that spiritual parentage. Do we act like our heavenly Father?

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love….(Ephesians 5:1-5)

My brothers and I certainly bear an earthly family resemblance in our actions. So much of what we say and do is a reflection of our “upbringing.” May our lives continue to reflect the parentage of our heavenly Father as well.