Family Heritage

Two weeks ago today I was in Virginia celebrating Thanksgiving with my family. Two weeks from today I will be in an airport again on my way back to Virginia. Two trips to see my family in less than a month...I'm a very lucky girl.

I'm enjoying this time I have to spend with my family and friends. I really enjoyed Thanksgiving with my family and I'm already looking forward to Christmas.

One of the best things (besides seeing family and friends) about being back in Virginia for Thanksgiving was some interesting information I learned. Most of this new information was concerning a deceased grandparent of mine. My Granddaddy Heatwole.

Granddaddy Heatwole (as I always called him) was part of my life as long as I can remember. Out of all my grandparents I probably felt closests to him. I'm sure that mostly had to do with the fact that Granddaddy Heatwole came down to the farm every day but Sunday, and lived only a mile from the farm (well they did move later in life - but he still came to the farm every day).

When I was a child, Granddaddy would come out to the farm early in the mornings and be there when I was waiting for the school bus. It was always for me to get in his pick-up truck at the end of the lane and wait for the school bus there. We would talk about different things, or I would search through his open glove box and play with the tire guage I found there, and sometimes he even had candy for me. Just spending that time with Granddaddy was special.

I have other memories of Granddaddy Heatwole, from him taking me to the livestock sales, going for ice cream, or playing croquet. I also remember the times when I'd be up at his house (being watched by my grandparents) and he'd be sitting in his chair reading his Bible or listen to some gospel record.

Granddaddy always impressed me as a quiet man, who enjoyed life, lived for God daily, loved his family greatly and was passionate about many things (from music to gardening). You know, as I sit here thinking of what I remember most about this man, I'm impressed with the knowledge that I knew he loved his family greatly. As I said my Granddaddy always struck me as a quiet man, in all my vaguest memories I can't remember one instance when Granddaddy ever said he loved me. And even though he might never have said the words to me I've never once doubted that he did love me. In fact I know it with absolute certainty. Granddaddy was always one to show his love through his actions, and I was a receiptient of those acts of love many a time.

Now that I've wandered a ways down this path of childhood memories let me get back on track with the purpose for me writing today. I was speaking earlier that I learned something new of my Granddaddy Heatwole while I was in Virginia for Thanksgiving. As it turns out my Granddaddy was quite the missionary in the years before I was born. I learned that he was involved with Cattle Boats to Italy, proposed church planting in Austrailia, time spent church planting in West Virginia, and even a trip to Russia.

The fact that my Granddaddy was passionate about missions isn't a surprise to me. I knew growing up that he supported missions, but I thought it was more of a financial support. He certainly did support missions financially, but in the years before my arrival into this world he was a missionary who went into the world.

For me there is a great significance to this new discovery. I finally feel as if there is someone in my family (or a family heritage) that I share a passion and desire with. For years I've known a desire to share God's love in the world, both where I was born/raised and other places. It's a desire that's torn me apart at times. At times I've wanted to stay close to my family and friends and everything familiar. Then there have been other times when I knew that peace wouldn't come until I ventured out of my comfort zone and went where God wanted me.

I'm encouraged to know that my Granddaddy (someone I've loved and who has loved me deeply) felt and experienced the same trials and joys. I know that my Granddaddy's faithful service to God continues in a legacy that I carry today. What a joy to have that knowledge.