My grandparents recently celebrated 63 years of marriage! A few years ago I video taped an interview with Papa and Mimi. In a time where divorce due to "irreconcilable differences"plague our country, my grandparents passed on some wise words to me and my siblings on what it takes to develop a marriage that will last a lifetime. Celebrity Scarlet Johansson was quoted on ending her three-year marriage to Ryan Reynolds saying, "I wasn't fully aware of the peaks and valleys. I wasn't prepared to hunker down and do the work." She got one thing right. Marriage is work. Love is so much more than a feeling. Love is an act of the will accompanied by emotion that leads to action on behalf of its object. Below is a clip of my grandparents talking about their marriage. You will want to get a kleenex before you watch!
Papa is currently in the last stage of Alzheimer's. He doesn't know any of us, even Mimi. He is still as kind and sweet natured as ever, but it breaks my heart to see him unable to complete a sentence, a phrase, a thought. He keeps asking to go home... his childhood home. After spending a few weeks under observation by Alzheimer's specialists, it was recommended he go to an Alzheimer's home. But Mimi said she couldn't live with herself if we didn't let her bring him home and try one more time at caring for him herself. Mimi has always been the picture of faith, and this is the first time I can ever remember seeing her discouraged. But she asks for our prayers, presses on, and shows us all a picture of true love. Love that is a selfless action grounded in commitment and faith and yes still accompanied by emotion. I am so thankful my dear Papa has her as his wife, and I'm thankful for the standard and example she is setting for me.
If your elderly loved ones are still alive I hope you too will consider creating a video legacy of memories that can be passed down to future generations. I am so grateful I made our video before Papa's Alzheimer's set in. A few questions I asked them included: What was your home like growing up? What were your parents like and how did they meet? I also had them tell me every one's full names and asked questions about their great grandparents, grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, siblings, and cousins. How did you come to know Christ? What did you do for fun growing up? How much did things cost? What were the major technological advances in your generation? How did you meet? What have been the greatest joys and greatest struggles in your marriage? What advice would you say to every future generation of your family legacy? So many others questions will naturally snowball.
Take advantage of the holidays with family and make some memorials to pass on to future generations!
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