Family Connections & God — Michelle Blan

Do you know your grandparents?

I was blessed enough to know my great grandparents on my mom’s side, but we lost them when I was in middle school. And, since I didn’t grow up anywhere near them, we were not as close as I would have liked. In other words, I remember a few key details, but the rest is a bit foggy.

I knew my mom’s dad, too. Well, her stepdad, but that didn’t make him any less my grandpa. Again, though, we were separated by a great deal of space.

That’s about it. I never met my grandparents. And, sadly, when it comes to my dad’s side of the family, the connections are even more scarce.

You can hear stories. You can even look at pictures. But, reading through someone’s Bible brings you about as close as you can get to truly knowing someone.

Think about it — we write things in the margins. We make notes on verses that speak to us. We place notes, important dates, and keepsakes between the thin pages. This is the raw, honest communication between ourselves and our Creator.

You can learn what someone was struggling with or what may have brought comfort. You can learn their deepest pain and their greatest triumphs. You see their worries and feel their special occasions.

The other day, I pulled out the Bibles that belonged to my dad’s parents – the grandparents that I never met and never heard much about at all. Slowly (and carefully) I turned through the pages. Mind you, these bibles are old. And, somewhere along the line, they suffered water damage, too. This means that their covers are disintegrating and the pages are rippling. But they are still full of information that makes my heart all fuzzy.

In my grandma’s bible, there was a handwritten note that read:

“The road may not be easy, but God is always near. He sees my disappointment, he knows my every fear. My faith shall not be shaken by hurts along the way, because I know He loves me and leads me day by day.”

Or how about the verses! My grandma seemed to be most interested in the Gospel of John while my grandpa was greatly focused on Revelations.

Don’t you have a saying, “It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.

John 4:35 (NIV)

And, of course, we can’t forget the poem about the kneeling camel. I looked this one up and discovered it was written by, Anna Temple Whitney.

You guys! That was my grandma’s handwriting!

So, what is the point of this post? After all, I am sure you aren’t overly interested in the things I found in my family bibles, right? Well, here’s what happened —

As I closed their bibles and moved to my own, I wondered, Is someone going to read this after I am gone? What would they be able to determine about my relationship with God based on my Bible? Was I in constant communication with him? Did I read His Word a lot? Was I focused on certain verses or books more than others? Will that focus speak about my life? Will the highlights, words, and markings in my Bible match the way I am remembered as a person?

And, I just wanted to share with you.

Until next time… ❤❤