Thursday, February 7, 2008

GENERATIONS OF SMILES


I don’t know how many years my husband’s grandparents were married but it brings a few smiles to recall some of the tales Nana told us when we were young and contemplating our marriage.
One of the stories that remains precious and almost unimaginable knowing Nana as the sedate wife of a minister, great student of the Bible, and wonderful gentle lady of distinction she came to be, was about how she, as a young woman actually purposely dropped her handkerchief as she traveled on a train in order to catch the attention of the gentleman who became her husband!
Another tale she told that stood out in my mind from the day she told it was about how shocked she was soon after their marriage when she realized it was up to her to use her own hands to wash out his soiled socks! No dozens of pairs of socks in those times or automatic washers, girls!
I suppose one story that many minister’s wives can relate to and the closest I ever heard as a faint murmur of complaint from Nana’s lips came when she told of an occasion when she had at least three little girls hanging around her skirts while being the one responsible for all the boiled potatoes for a church potluck. She said she wondered why it had to be her job just because she was the preacher’s wife! Couldn’t people see she had her hands full with those little girls? She smiled as she recalled spouting off (my words, I don’t recall hers) to her husband about it and I can imagine him giving her shoulders a bit of a squeeze as he answered, “You gotta love ‘em, Mama.” She had overcome the feelings of frustration a very long time before she told that story but she had never forgotten how it felt to be a young mother trying to do so many things because it was expected of her. She carried that understanding into her mature years and I believe she helped Grampie see through new eyes how difficult it was for young moms at times as well.
Our dear Nana was with us through her 107th year of life, past the 48th anniversary of our marriage. She loved to recall the part she and Grampie played in our marriage as well as the fact that it was in their home where he performed the ceremony and she played “Here Comes the Bride” on the piano as I descended the front stairs into their living room.
All of these memories brought smiles to her heart as she followed the admonition “to teach what is good” (Titus 2:3b) at every opportunity she had with me through word and deed in all those years.
Now my smiles are mingled with hers.
© Marilyn Sue (Libby) Moore 2-7-08

2 comments:

  1. When we look back at how we managed with less conveniences, but more than our mothers had, it's easy to wonder why young mothers with all the conveniences of today seem to struggle. I've come to believe that it's all relative. I feel that my role is to encourage young mothers to take one day at a time and find something that they can do for the Lord, knowing that the influence they have on their children is an awesome responsibility. You and your mother are who you are today from the influence of your Nana.

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  2. Loved this story. I just learned this morning how to place a comment. Will try to submit more in the future.

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