Here we go again. Another multi-part blog. It’s not because I’m trying to draw you in and then leave you hanging like an episode of “Game of Thrones”. It’s because I’m too wordy. I’ve not yet learned the art of brevity and I can’t fit all my thoughts into a single blog. It also means I write from the heart instead of trying to please critics. In any event, today’s subject is called, “A Bit of Yourself”. It’s about leaving a legacy. You’ll soon see why.
When my grandson was born, I decided to write a book for him. I thought it might be something that would bring him memories of his Pappy when I was gone. I worked on it for what seemed like forever, but somehow got it finished prior to his first Christmas. It wasn’t my best writing, but it came from my heart and I accomplished what I set out to do. My goal wasn’t to create a best-seller. My goal was to stir some memories that would show him how much I loved him. I also wanted to share some family values for when I was no longer around to do it in person.
When I think back on my own grandparents, I realize my memories of them are rather faded. That was a long time ago and they all died when I was rather young. With the exception of a cross my maternal grandmother crocheted for me, I don’t have any physical items that stir memories and remind me of my grandparents. I still use the crocheted cross as a bookmark in my Bible and it makes me think of her every time I see it, but I wish I had some physical reminders from my other grandparents, as well.
I don’t want my grandchildren to forget me. That’s why I decided to leave a bit of myself. Just like the crocheted cross makes me think of my grandmother, I wanted to provide something physical that would help my grandson remember me. I decided to leave him a book I would write especially for him.
My family has always enjoyed Christmas. It’s our favorite time of the year. My wife and daughters go crazy decorating the house with all kinds of Christmas decor. My daughters have the Santa figurines I’ve given them (hold this thought until my next blog) which are beginning to overtake their houses. If allowed, they would have a Christmas tree in every room. Oh, who am I trying to kid? There are Christmas trees in every room. We have certain traditions that we follow, and in many respects, those traditions are considered sacred.
When considering what type of book I wanted to write for my grandson, I thought of several subjects, but the one that seemed most meaningful was a book dealing with Christmas traditions.
I got to work, formulated my thoughts, documented many of the traditions our family observes around Christmas, wrote the verbiage, secured an illustrator and suddenly I had a book. I called the book “A Christmas Eve Tradition”. The premise of the book is that we have all these amazing things we do around Christmas, and all of them are fun and wonderful things to do, but we also shouldn’t forget about the real meaning of Christmas in the process. Christmas is really for celebrating the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. In the book, I tell my grandson that it’s important we celebrate Santa coming, but we also need to remember it’s the night of our dear Savior’s birth. I couple those two items in the book to assure we take time for both.
In the forward of the book, I wrote a message to my grandson:
“To my grandson, Jack:
In our family, Christmas is all about traditions. Through this book, I’d like to start a new tradition with you. I’m hoping it will become as special for you to read as it was for me to write.
On your first Christmas Eve, just before you go to sleep, I’m going to read this book to you. I’m hoping someone will read it to you every Christmas Eve in the years to come. One day, when you’re old enough to read, I’m hoping you will read it to them.
You’re not even a year old yet, so you won’t understand much this year, but each year as you get older, it will mean more and more. I hope you decide to continue this tradition and one day you will read it to your grandchild on his or her first Christmas Eve. Love, Pappy.”
What I attempted to do by writing this book was to pass down values, traditions and memories in a physical form; something that wouldn’t fade with time like the memory of my own grandparents. I wanted to provide something that would stand the test of time and still have meaning years after I’m gone. I left A Bit of Myself.
You don’t want the memories you leave your family to be about you having Myasthenia Gravis. You don’t want MG to be what they remember most about you. You want them to remember how much you love them.
MG is what you have, it isn’t who you are. Your family wants to remember you for the kind loving person you always were. There’s no better way to do that than to provide them with something physical to help keep those memories alive. I’m not talking about anything big; I’m talking about something with meaning, something that comes from your heart. Trust me, your family doesn’t want a life-size statue of you that they feel obligated to drag around with them every time they move. That want something little, something that means something, something that’s special just between you.
Maybe you’re good at writing, maybe you’re good at singing, maybe you’re good at sewing or crocheting, maybe you’re good at just being you. Whatever it is, leave A Bit of Yourself for them so the memories recalled are memories that will be enjoyed and last well beyond your years. If you haven’t done this yet, do it now. Your family will thank you for generations to come.
Just leave:
A Bit of Yourself