For this week’s #SundayMessage I am reposting this letter I wrote to my granddaughter Rocket on her birthday a few years ago. I actually wrote to all my grandchildren via her. It's about things I've learned I would like to pass on to them. It was never put on my website…So now it is! 🤭 Since our precious children and grandchildren are headed back to school to be educated, I thought this letter would be timely. I hope you have a beautiful Sunday, and remember, I love you all!!!!
For My Dearest Rocket….
My oldest granddaughter.
🎂Happy Birthday🎈my sweet and precious angel! You’re so creative! I gave you a sewing machine today; after all, every little girl needs a sewing machine to learn how to use her creativity!💖🥰 And since Mommy and Daddy both sew, I know it will be put to good use. I told you it comes with fabric, so we will go shopping and pick out some cloth for you to make beautiful things. I remember doing that with my mom and grandmother.💖 Isn’t it funny how traditions keep passing on throughout time?
OK, the cliches are true about time going by so quickly. Time is such an earthly experience; I don’t think Heavenly Father looks at a clock and says, “Heavens! Where did the time go?” But since this earthly “me” still feels the effects of time, today I’m going to share a few ideas with you, my granddaughter, as well as all of my grandchildren. I feel I have been given some good advice along the way; this is a birthday letter to my sweet grandchildren, my posterity. I love you!!!!!
(I have adapted the rest of this letter to Rocket and made it to all of you who read this.)
As a grandparent, it's so wonderful to feel this incredible depth of love and how it grows daily for each of my precious grandchildren; of course, I knew I would, but it’s just better than I ever thought possible!!! I needed to say that! 😂
The other day, my daughter Rachael, Rocket's mom, sent me a picture of her little boy Wolf peeling tomatoes and Rocket slicing them to make homemade stewed tomatoes for bottling.
I gave Rachel a pressure cooker for her birthday.😉💖 She’s such an excellent little canner! (Almost a lost art). I remember taking my girls to bottle cherries at my mom’s house before she passed away. My precious mother couldn't do much in her final days, but watching the sheer joy on her face while her grandchildren carried on her love of canning brought pure joy to my heart. I know I’ve told you before that I would come home from working long hours at the Donny and Marie Show, and she would say, OK, Marie, it’s time to can peaches or cherries, or we’re going to learn to make bread or craft or sew now. Yes, that was my mother! 💖
I knew taking my girls to her house and having them do some canning in front of her would be a special blessing for my mom to watch. Seeing her grandbabies learn a skill she taught her little girl (me!) was so satisfying to her heart. I understood even more, the comfort my mother had in seeing important aspects of her life taught to me and passed on to her family. I believe it gave her a bit of “immortality,” for want of a better word. She knew these types of skills were grounding; they build self-esteem and respect for oneself, besides being practical. So now, to see Rocket following in her mommy’s footsteps, I understand my mother’s joy and fulfillment as a mother and grandmother. I believe our ancestors are watching over us and appreciate these traditions of simple living being passed on. Being self-reliant is power and a mixture of spiritual and temporal knowledge. When we ask the Lord for help with work, or even life, He will give us the direction we need if we prepare ourselves to hear it. But we need to put in the sweat! Nothing good comes easily! The Savior and hard work have been behind every success in my life. And like canning, if we put in the effort, when we finally open that jar months later, it is worth every bit of effort and highly satisfying! 😉
I love learning new skills! I tell my children to try different talents, and if you don't like doing it, don't do it again, but you have to finish what you start. I’d like all my grandchildren to know how important education is in all subjects. Even with or without a degree, we should never stop learning! I may not have graduated in the arts, but I feel I have spent a lifetime learning them. I'm grateful for the desire instilled in me by my mother, who showed me through her example that we should never put a plateau on education. The process of gaining knowledge is essential, but seeking wisdom (the proper application of knowledge) is even more important. That's the real goal; actual knowledge comes from living life wisely. Yes, we will all make mistakes and even fail, but giving up or not trying is our biggest mistake. How can we hope to reach our God-appointed potential with an empty vessel? So we must strive to fill our lives with truths…and know where to get them. Starting with God’s word is essential, and then following His counsel is our compass for success. He wants us to have all things and has set a pattern for success. I personally know this is true!
Next, I would also like them to know it is essential to take care of our minds and bodies - we must be healthy to participate fully in life. That means having the best health we possibly can and not just existing. In a world that says we’re OK being whatever we want, the wisdom here is that we should be physically fit for our heart health, which affects our mental health. We cannot serve from a broken vessel. I know all about this, so to my grandchildren, strive every day and in every way to take care of yourselves. Become pickier about the foods you eat, the shows you watch, the books you read, and even the music you listen to… mine excluded. Seriously though, they all create YOU. I’ll tell you what my father would say, “Be the best YOU in everything you do so when you see God, you can say, I gave it my all!” Or, as my mother would say, “Live life every single day with grace and love, and for heaven's sake, don’t be afraid of using the good China for every meal!” So take care of yourselves because when your body is healthy, it really does affect your mind.
Lastly, I want my grandchildren to know how important it is to be a loving and kind person. The Savior asked us to love one another. I want my grandchildren to take that commandment seriously and to their hearts. A negative persnickety conversation rarely leaves us feeling good...so be quick to think before you respond….then always reach out in love. Service to others heals us. Forgiveness to others frees us so we can live our lives.
Life is fleeting… You never know how long you will be here, so try to spread love, light, and happiness every place you go, and be grateful for every day. When you wake up, say, “I’m blessed to see another sunrise,” and enjoy the beauty of this world. Take time to remove yourself from the fast pace of this world and ponder on God’s goodness because even the storms can be beautiful… It just depends on how you’ve prepared yourself to see them… I choose to grow.
These are the words I would like to pass on to my grandchildren’s hearts today, especially my sweet Rocket, on her birthday. I love you ALL so much!!!!!
Grandma
