Legacy- Then and Now

I had to do this post sometime. The time is now. Of course, February is not the only time we celebrate love and history – but there’s no better time than the present. This story of love and legacy began way before I was born. It began in the 1950s, but was cemented in January, 1960 when a certain Mr. P married Lady l. I became a part of the story in the late 1970s when I met my ‘ride or die’ friend in high school. Girl, we’ve been doing this a longtime😊! That’s US in 1983 in the picture above. Skirts, skirts and more skirts! I’m sure Lady L made them all. Same style too!😂

How did this come to be? I believe in divine connections – that part of our life story that was lined up by God. Before I met my friend in high school, I actually met Daddy P as an 8 or 9 year-old in primary [elementary] school. He used to drive the ‘Book Mobile’ – a mobile library van. Our school did not have a library and the closest library was in town. I vividly remember him always smiling and helping the very tiny ones like myself, to climb up into the van to select the book[s] we wanted to borrow. In his dark sunglasses – everybody’s imaginary cool dad. Even if just for the moment.

I won’t go into details now but my friend and I were not supposed to be in the same class our first year in high school. Her last name started with ‘P’, mine started with ‘Y’. We were placed in our classes alphabetically. My class had students whose last name started with the letters T to Z. How did she end up in my class? A story for another time. Let’s just say divine appointment.

How did this family get here? How is this legacy of love maintained? Unless you’ve been under a rock this past decade, you must have noticed how families are falling to pieces. This has been even more evident since the pandemic. Many families are hurting. Over the years, I’ve seen a thing or two that may be worth mentioning. Things that are a sure way to keep the legacy going.

Unconditional love. I’ve seen Mr. & Mrs. P love their children to hell and back. I am not the only one who was engrafted into this family. There have been a few others who experienced this love also. That love continues to flow to the next generation. Prayer. As teenagers, I remember in the ‘midnight’ hours [sometimes we just came home and started to sleep] – Mommy P. would walk through the rooms where we were sleeping. She didn’t do the silent praying.😂 I know God bottled those tears and prayers. Don’t ask if we didn’t need them! Those early Sunday morning devotions. You don’t need to ask what was going through our minds then.🤣 As uninvolved as we were- that never deterred Mommy P. She did devotions as passionately as if we were paying attention😅. We can all agree that these are some of the reasons we are here today.

Laughter. I don’t need to elaborate. If you have ever been in a room with this family, you know what I mean. That includes laughing at and with each other. Learning how to disagree agreeable. An art that is practiced here. To be noted – This is not a family free of disagreements. Extending grace and mercy. Understanding that no one is perfect and giving room to recover from failures and mishaps. Forgiveness is practiced. At the end of the day, no one is less loved. Music. There’s always the sound of music and singing when the family comes together.

Daddy P is resting now- no longer in pain and sickness. The memories of him chasing boys away still makes us laugh. Mommy P was ahead of her time. Every boyfriend [or girlfriend] would have a conversation with her on the verandah [front porch] where she was always sewing. Life hasn’t been perfect but when Paul said in scriptures ‘none of these things move me’ [Acts 20:24] – We saw that in this queen. She loves and serves with grace and humility. She loves Jesus- period!

This is just part of the story. A story that calls for a book. Hint, hint y’all! You can do this. Time and space does not allow me to tell the whole story. As we celebrate love and history this month, we celebrate the legacy of a family that loves and cares for each other. A family that fights to keep the circle unbroken on earth and in eternity. So blessed to be part of the story!

*** Thanks for stopping by. I hope you were inspired to fight for your legacy. ‘Like’, share and comment.