A Glorious Gift

 

While most considered them an unusual couple, a surprising union of two remarkably different people, they grew together, planned big, and created amazing dreams to achieve. Child number one arrived, to be shortly thereafter followed by child number two. This became a beautiful pattern of wonderful, obedient, and intelligent children. The home continued to grow through the application of wisdom, hard work, and sacrifice.

Much to everyone’s surprise, this ever-blossoming family struggled even more to bring in another child who had no one, who had been rejected, and one for whom no one could see any kind of promising future. The little bundle of joy brought great joy but also great struggles to his new brothers and sisters. As the years passed, he found himself unlike all the rest, which proved to be a great blessing for him, for them, and for everyone with whom he interacted.

Never coddled, never babied, and never treated any differently than the rest of them, he struggled to find his place, to find a place to land, and put down roots. He was good and kind in a way that was different from all of the others, having a genetic foundation radically different and purposefully distinct. He eventually embraced his place, found connections, and learned to adjust as different struggles came his way.

He had a mind and a heart that painted him into a different kind of person that anyone else he knew. Generosity, kindness, forgiveness, and a willingness to overlook the disdain of some and the unkind words of others, he formed himself into someone who could always find the good. He acquired skills that he did not learn at home, from his parents, or from his siblings, becoming an incredible asset and gift to them and to many others.

A different kind of brilliance challenged the rest of them to consider themselves, to reconsider him, and to adjust for the better. Surpassing them all in all of the categories that were actually important, he grew, he matured, he connected, and he helped anyone and everyone. His social skills, his gift for conversation, and his ability to see what no one else could, brought out the best in him, and in everyone who knew him.

He acquired skills that made him even stronger, stronger in ways that he could not find anywhere else. He eventually began to travel the world, bringing light and joy to those he met, to those who connected with him, and those who initially found him somewhat intimidating. His massive girth was matched only by his laughter, his smile, and his willingness and desire to be kind to everyone.

Having visited most of the states in North America, several countries across eastern and western Europe and a few countries on the continent of Africa, he continued to expand his copious connections, making friends everywhere, even in those places that knew little of the English language.  His best friend, a little old man, always watched his back, gave him advice, and helped him whenever he could. His other friends, “the blob” from Ukraine, and “the grinch” from Russia, kept him honest, encouraged him to continue growing and improving, and challenged him to always be more.

Always one to give away what someone else needed more than he did, he eventually met a young woman who could see the gold within him. Her personality, her wisdom and her kindness created a wonderful connection for him, rounding out certain areas of his life, and making him complete. With similar backgrounds, they eventually married, became settled, had two children, and raised those children to love others, to sacrifice for others, and to always think of the well-being of those in need rather than catering to their own passions and desires.

Though they struggled a bit in terms of money, he acquired more skills, used his charming personality to build a clientele that remained faithful to his private business. As the years continued on, they eventually overcame their financial struggles and established themselves in their own home, buying instead of renting. As he and she began to age, their children continued to be the good people they were raised to be, giving of themselves to care for their parents.

The children grew to be brilliant, loving, caring, and generous individuals who succeeded in everything they did. With goodness of heart, generosity, and brilliant minds, they both earned incomes that allowed them to settle comfortably and provide a stable, comfortable home for their aging parents. They watched them slowly age, slow down in their approach to life, but still continue to be generous and kind to everyone they knew.

What started as one little boy with an amazing opportunity to grow and develop eventually turned into a family that took that resilience, that took hard work, and a passion to love others rather than loving comfort. He and his wife continued to grow old, watched their two children form families of their own and generate the next generation of grandchildren. From one came a passion for others, to then be joined by another, from whom would come two more, who were raised to love others.

As they grew older and older, they saw the arrival of nine grandchildren, who eventually would marry, and create over thirty great-grandchildren, all of whom followed in their great grandfather’s footsteps, understanding the importance of giving, of serving, and of self-sacrifice. The remarkably ancient couple watched with joy as their passion for others grew into more than just their own actions, the actions of their children, and the actions of their grandchildren. Eventually, their generosity and kindness became well known through their part of the state, greatly impacting and benefiting others.

In the comfort of their own home, taken care of by their grandchildren, they both knew that they had done well, that they had brought glory to the family name, and did for others what so many others refused to do. To everyone’s surprise, the ancient couple lived year after year, surpassing one hundred, then reaching one hundred and ten to then reach one hundred and eighteen, still taking walks and enjoying the visits of their thousands of friends, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

As they reached their hundred and twentieth year, they began to receive letters in the mail from the families of their friends from around the world. With each visitor, with each letter, and with each email, they both kept careful track of each one, building an ever-growing address book of names and locations. With each physical visitor, they took photos and began to write letters to everyone they could remember from their many years and their many travels across the entire planet.

They could see the end approaching and made appropriate plans for their sooner than later funeral. They both knew that they would repose together and made their funeral list with all the names of their loved ones. Invitations were to be sent out on the day of their mutual repose. Fourteen days after their mutual demise, over seven thousand people arrived for their funeral, overwhelming the small town in which they lived. Creating a social setting that was spoken about for the many decades that followed.

Their oldest great-grandchild created a shrine for the ancient couple, carefully documenting everywhere they had traveled, everyone they knew, and the incredible impact they had upon the many thousands over their many years together. The photo album and history of the couple was kept and cherished by each generation, being passed down from one family to the next, as a reminder of the importance of loving others, of caring for others, and not pampering oneself when others were in need.