55 Years

 

When I was born, my grandparents had already spent 25 years honoring one another as husband and wife.  Two small-town kids, my grandparents were high school sweet hearts and have stood beside one another for 55 amazing years.  That is so hard for me to fathom, 55 years! Besides congratulating my Mama and Papa of loving one another through it all, they are incredible people apart as well as together.

Don Lightner is a symbol of what our country used to stand for.  I know that there are still people out there like him, but not nearly as many as there should be.  He is a business man who puts friends ahead of his own profit.  Not only friends, anyone he sees in need.  When was the last time you had your AC go out and the repair company said, "you  know, these are hard times. Just pay us when you can."  When was the last time you called up a friend and said, "I lost my job, can you pay my rent this month?" My grandfather is the kind of person who has and always will do what he can to help, "the least of these." He wasn't always a business owner.  He retired from Wonder Bread years ago but before he could retire from one job, he had already started another out of his home. He worked the night shift watching the bagging machine for more years than I can imagine.  The night shift; opposite of his bride and still mangaged to be a father to two children, a school board member and countless other amazing things that I probably don't even know about.  He is amazing. Simply put.

My grandmother...wow. She is a saint in my book.  The spiritual leader and backbone that has humbly lead and inspired the generations that have followed her.  She worked for 45 years at the same desk job. She re-used her same paper sack, baggies and foil for weeks, always taking her lunch and never spending the extra money to eat out yet always gave freely on Sundays and to anyone who needed it.  She treats others with kindness and love.  She, too, would give the shirt off her back to help those in need and too often, people will take advantage of her kindness, though she rarely lets it bother her. "They must need it more than I do." Oh, and if you ever get a glimpse of the bible she has read and re-read, it is duck taped together! She has other bibles, she just prefers this one for her at home reading.

These two incredible people have been such an influence in my life. Their love for one another, through thick and thin, their love for others and their love for family is something I hope to possess and pass on to our future generations.  I love you so much Mama and Papa.  Sorry I am a few days late, but happy 55th wedding anniversary! In your footsteps, my family spent the morning with some amazing families at an apartment complex enjoying smores, hot dogs, and sharing the Joy of love in Christ.