Close family, beautiful parties, wonderful food, and life long friends.
Could you think of something worth aspiring to more?
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| Grandmother, Grandfather, my cousin Beth, my sister Katie, and myself. |
At my Grandfather's 80th Birthday weekend, I realized that there is nothing more valuable.
Last Friday, I drove home from Birmingham and walked into a house full of my parents friends laughing, eating, and enjoying being together once again. Like any good party, the food was great, but the stories were better! Some of the stories I've heard thousands of times, and some of the stories I heard for the first time that night. But sitting there with my parents closest friends and the best story tellers you'll ever meet, it was so beautiful to be reminded how how much love and joy is shared amongst the believers that once made up Roswell Street Baptist. I felt more at home and enjoyed myself more that night with those adults in their fifties than I have with anyone in their twenties in a long time.
Then Saturday was the party at the Club with, shall we say, our seasoned friends. Around those tables sat the movers and shakers of Marietta, even some of West Cobb's royalty. They were laughing about past adventures, projecting to the future, reflecting on past pain, and unknowingly encouraging the youngest guests: my cousin, my sister, and I. As I looked around at the women that I admire most in this world (lets face it- its the great woman who makes the great man), I was so encouraged to not give up just because my circumstance (aka. this gosh awful economy) is throwing me for a loop and to hold fast to my convictions.
After the parties were over and everything had been cleaned and put back in its placed, I realized how blessed I am to be from such a wonderful family back home- and I'm not just referring to the ten people who know Dr. Price as "Grandfather". Through days of heartache and days of joy, these people all share such love for each other and for their Lord. All of those friendships were bread in church, and crazy enough, most of the Friday night guest meet in singles Sunday School (the only encouragement here is that they hated it too).
I also realized how valuable time together is. I guarantee that ten years ago not one of them would have thought that they would have all been scattered about because of a church split (more like blunt force hack-apart). The time we have with friends and family is so valuable and should be treasured. But at the same time, we need these friends to encourage us to send us out into the world for our next chapters. And that is exactly what they have all done for me. Sure, I may have just two grandparents and a family of four that share my name, but my family is so much bigger than that.
Who says you can't go home?
Knowing that I always can go home (to open arms) is what gives me the strength to stand on my own, and thats exactly what family should do for each other.
