Love Endures

My great-grandmother passed away last week and with that heavy on my family’s heart I have spent a lot of time reflecting. One of my favorite memories of Grandma Rakes was when we found out I was pregnant with my oldest daughter, Madilyn.

To add some context, Eric and I found out we were going to be parents a week after my 18th birthday. It was our senior year and obviously no one was thrilled at the idea of us being teen parents. My Meme wrote out a script that she planned on reading to each and every family member over the phone to save me the brunt of some of the shame. She dreaded telling Grandma Rakes and saved her as one of the last to tell. But, Grandma’s response was what sets our family apart. “Well, we are gonna love that baby, yes we are.” And she did. Madi loved Grandma and Grandma loved her.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud  or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.  It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.  Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Our family endures. As I look back over the course of this year I cannot help but feel immensely grateful for the family God has blessed me with and how thankful I am for each and every person. There is a common thread that runs through the core of our hearts and links us all together, something way deeper than blood, and that is a love and it is something I will never ever take for granted.