A few weeks ago a friend went
to be with the Lord after she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of lung
cancer. She was a strong believer, spunky despite her diminutive size, and she loved
ministering to children, and later in life to senior adults.
Her name was Joyce and our
paths crossed in a writing class a few years ago. She conducted the class. I
credit Joyce for inspiring me to start writing again after years of putting that
avocation to the side. When my Patch Town novels were published, she got the
first signed copy. She shared in that accomplishment.
She told the class she began
journaling family events when her husband passed some 15 years ago. She
realized that her grandchildren, who were young at the time, would not have an
opportunity to spend time with their grandfather. That’s when she decided to
record events centered on her husband which eventually expanded to cover events
related to the whole family.
She shared some of these
stories in the class. Some accounts were humorous, other were sad. Even years
after her husband’s death, the family journal of special events became a source
of comfort and inspiration to her growing grandchildren. It was as if the
grandfather were still alive and influencing the grandchildren.
We attended Joyce’s memorial
service. So many wonderful things were said about her. But the greatest impact
was seeing all of her family journals placed about the church. There were too
many to count. I saw them as love letters to the future. Time has a way of
moderating one’s view of past events. With the journals one can always return
to the past to experience a first-hand account. Written in the past, they
continue to shape the future.
I believe this is a reminder
for all of us. We all have sons and daughters, grandchildren, nieces and
nephews, friends. We are not all writers. We may feel like we have minimal
talents to influence and encourage young people. Regardless, let us make a
commitment to leave positive experiences for the future. There is no experience
too small. Sometime the most inconsequential experience has the greatest
impact!
Robert Parlante
March 2016
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