PASSING the (Family) BATON

My Siblings & I - 2009

Yesterday my family got together to celebrate our sister's only son as he prepares to enter the Navy next month.  We had a wonderful time getting reacquainted with each other's children and grandchildren.  Some we haven't seen since they were babies, and meeting great nieces and nephews for the first time.

My brothers have taken over the cooking for our family gatherings.  When we were kids it was the women who prepared all the meals (on occasion my father would grill ribs, corn on the cob and hot dogs).  Today, the men take great pride in their grilling (and deep frying) of a variety foods.  They even make the side dishes!  The only thing they allow the women to do is make the deserts.

While enjoying the meal my sister-in-law and I reminisced about events, tragedies and triumphs of our families; and how we missed the passing of grandparents, parents and other family leaders.  Becoming silent in our thoughts my eyes began to fill with tears.  I looked at my sister-in-law and said, "We're now the patriarchs and matriarchs of our family."  On my mother's side the remaining patriarch is her brother battling cancer for the second time and not doing too well, and her sister is still alive.  On my father's side all of the grandparents, uncles and aunts are deceased.  The oldest female would be my cousin, if she's still alive (we've lost contact with her and her children).  If not, that makes me the Matriarch and my eldest brother the Patriarch of our family.

It seems we're so much younger than our parents and grandparents were when they stepped into the role of Patriarch and Matriarch of the family.  What will we leave behind to those under us when we pass from this life?  My hope is that we will leave a legacy of faith in the Living Christ who has always been our source of strength to triumph over every obstacle, crisis, disappointment, hardship and failure. 
TO GOD BE THE GLORY FOR EVER AND EVER, AMEN!