From generation to generation, we create, we cradle, we support our families and friends, showing our love in tangible and intangible ways.
We lay foundations of trust and build shelters from the storms.
We share joy through giving of ourselves, of our time and our talents.
We teach love by our words and our actions, and hold out our hands both as a request for support and as an offer of help.
While these examples will take many different forms for each family, they are all expressions of our connection to one another, now and far into the future.
We may write notes of encouragement, congratulations and sympathy to recognize the difficulties, the triumphs and the losses.
My maternal grandmother was a lifetime letter writer, often jotting short notes onto simple notepaper and mailing them along to her grateful audience. I also am fortunate that my mother-in-law makes lovely cards for all of us who hold a special place in her heart. Right now, I am cherishing the greeting she made for my husband and I for our twenty-ninth wedding anniversary as it sits on my dining room table, the soft blues of the hand-drawn cute little lovebirds warmly lit by the sun streaming through my window.
We may show our hearts through the expertise we offer.
My dad has built a deep reservoir of skills over his lifetime. One of the very well-used and often tapped is his ability to build and repair most anything around the house. He has lent his strengths more time than I can count to each of us kids through helping to design and build additions and houses, to remodel kitchens, and so much more. His ability to see to the heart of a problem and offer his wise counsel has been another area where we have been the fortunate recipients of his love.
We take note of the important and celebrate it.
Both my husband’s and my mother have always been so good at this, from providing meals to offering their shoulder to cry on, starting well before we were new parents and continuing to this day. Recently my mom brought along a batch of her trademark, light and fresh and oh so yummy still warm homemade rolls when she and my dad visited their first great-grandbaby. This week marks the birthday of the youngest grandchild, and mom chose to sew outfits for Alyssa’s dolls. Not only are the shorts and tops handmade, but mom and dad customized the embroidery so that the horses-and Katie the Pug-bore the names and colors of those at Alyssa’s home. They tell a tale of paying attention to what is important to their granddaughter, to what brings her joy, and of showing their love for her.
It is through these acts, small and large, from near and far, these labors of love that we share, we help, we gift, we teach, and we form the threads of our relationships. Later, we run our hands gently and reverently over the presents, the cards and letters and the photo albums, and remember the joy and the laughter surrounding a moment, an event and the person behind it. Our gratitude is palpable for the timeless gift of love, of belonging to a family, of being part of a colorful and beautiful story.
A personal P.S. for my parents: Mom, I know you are reading this. Thank you for the inspiration and legacy of love from you and dad from the bottom of my heart. Thanks for the “oh my gosh”, “near miss” and “what in the world were you thinking?!” stories, too, but we won’t talk about those today . . . 
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Challenge: How are you showing the love and creating stories in your life?
Action: Choose one thing to do this week, whether making a call, having family over for a meal, writing a letter, making a gift, and do it.
Please share in the comments about your plans or what you have done in the past. We would love the inspiration and encouragment!
Sharing at No Ordinary Blog Hop
Image credit-Kim Hall. Please do not use without permission.
What a beautiful, inspirational post! Family is so important! And to have the tangible remembrance is absolutely priceless! I can see those little doll outfits becoming family heirlooms! So often, the things people say are forgotten. But the things people do are there to remind us far, far into the future. How blessed you are to have such a family a round you. Thank you for sharing them with us on NOBH!
Thanks for coming down from the ranch, Diane.
I love reading the stories you share about your family and growing up on the farm. What a treasure having that as your childhood, and now being able to record much of it in writing. Priceless!
This is such a beautiful post! Thank you for the reminder to take not of and cherish these special gifts our loved ones give to us, and to take the time to bestow a few ourselves.
Sometimes it is much easier to give than to receive, isn’t it, but, I agree, it is important to cherish both, Thanks for joining in the conversation.
I also love to practice different ways that I can leave a legacy for my family. Thank you for reminding us to not take these things for granted. Many blessings to you!
There are so many activities and traditions that we can do as families that leave such joyful memories and a lasting legacy. Love your site and your focus on legacies-they are so important! Thanks for stopping by, Shari!
I love this line: “We teach love by our words and our actions, and hold out our hands both as a request for support and as an offer of help.” . . . This is a beautiful reminder of how families build each other up. Thanks for sharing this and for visiting me at Doorkeeper. Blessings!
Thanks, Renee. I appreciate your kinds words!
So well said …except you forgot one thing…”You owe our pahhhrents everything…”
Ha ha! Thanks for coming by, Cindy, and thanks for the laugh! So that’s how you spell that word!
Beautiful post! Thank you for the encouraging reminder to show our love and create stories together.
Thank you so much for coming over from The Marriage Checklist and joining the conversation! Love all that you do to help grow strong marriages!
Twitter: HappyWivesClub
says:
I love the note to your mom at the end of this post. Very cool and I’m sure she loved seeing that :).
She did. And I am so very blessed to have the parents that I do! Thanks for dropping by.
You have a very talented and generous family, KIm. No wonder you’re just too darn happy. We all need to learn from their example and get busy “caring and loving!”
Beth, you make me laugh, thanks so much!
Oh, yes. There is a boat load of talent in the family. I am so blessed to be able to call for help in web design, graphics, kitchen design & cabinetry, construction and repair, crafts of all sorts, writing and more…. Truly humbled by the abilities that surround me!