A Living Legacy to the Women Who Walked Before Us
Comments(4) I was looking at some family photos the other day and was struck by my physical resemblance to a grandmother I had never met. A woman with the same strong face and body type. It made me realize how much I physically take after my father’s side of the family while other siblings resemble my mother’s.
We are a living legacy to our ancestors. Our Aunt Elizabeth’s dimple, Great Grandmas thick curly hair, Nana’s strong hands, Mom’s beautiful eyes and easy laughter…
One of my daydreams involves walking past a field in Eastern Europe a few hundred years ago, seeing a woman bent over harvesting something, calling her name and when she looks up… seeing my own face. I am the sum of the women who walked before me… the face I see in the mirror is a reflection of the woman who are/were my mothers…
I am proud to stand as the woman I am… the woman of my line…
Look at yourself in the mirror and see your lineage. Who do you see? When I look at you and get to know you… who are the women behind you?
My grandmother was known for her prayer life; she suffered greatly from many health issues including rheumatoid arthritis. Yet, she didn’t complain. She always had a smile on her face and praise on her lips for the God she served. Her favorite tag was “Praise the Lord”.
My mother labored for many years to put my sister and me through a private Christian school; she now suffers from many bodily ailments. She doesn’t speak of them often unless she’s discussing her latest Dr. visit and test results. Mom is usually in a chipper mood with a ready laugh, with talk about her cat Puffy and her grandchildren on her lips.
I hope to personify the spirit and strength of my mother and grandmother, one who went before me and one who still goes before me.
Dawn Herring
JournalWriter Freelance
Be Refreshed!
My first grandchild was born 11 weeks ago…a beautiful baby girl. It was the most profound experience I’ve ever had. As I looked at her for the first time, I saw my daughter, my mother, my grandmother and myself in her…my past, my present and my future all in one beautiful little bundle of joy…the women who have gone before me and those who will come after me. This little one is also a fifth generation first born daughter of a first born daughter, on my mother’s side. She is the newest life in a long line of strong first born women. Since becoming a grandmother, I have thought often of those women who have gone before me and look forward to sharing their stories with my granddaughter.
When I look in the mirror I see my mother and I often wonder what her mother looked like. I think I have alot resemblances on my mothers side. I’m the only short “vertically correct” person in my family. Even my mother was taller than me but had told me I am much like my grandmother. I believe my grandmother was a hard working, loving person. (My mom sure was, God rest her soul.) One had to be in order to raise 12 children on very little. I would of liked to have met her.
Brilliant and inspirational! You really struck a beautiful chord with me when mentioning resemblance to your grandmother. I saw an old photo of my grandmother (on Dad’s side) and couldn’t believe my eyes! I’m so much like her (in so many ways, I say proudly), and now I feel just a hint more beautiful and just a hint more immortal – because I’ve passed my beautiful grandmother’s looks and personality on to my Wee Beastie! (Gorgeous daughter in whom I’m trying to instill a strong, self-loving foundation so she can avoid the tortures of low-self-esteem issues)
Cyndi
(@webvixn on Twitter)