When my grandmother was nineteen years old, she came across the ocean by boat. She made her way to Upper Michigan by train. Two of her brothers had settled there.
She left behind her mother, father, sisters and brothers whom she never saw again. She didn’t forget them. She wrote letters and sent packages, but she didn’t go back. It was too far for her to go back. The boat trip to America in 1903 had been very hard.
She told my mother, “Someday you must go.” My mother went twice and visited with her cousins. A few years later my mother’s sister made the trip to Finland.
In 2017 my husband and I went. Descendants of my grandmother’s family held a reunion and we visited the village where she had grown up. It was a blessing to visit Finland and meet my relatives.
As I think about the blessing and bonds of family, my thoughts go to the family of God. Throughout my life I have studied the Bible with other believers, and it has given me a sure foundation of faith. During difficult seasons, the prayers of Christians have sustained me.
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3: 14 -19
The prompt for today’s post is: FAR
Sharing this post with the Five Minute Friday writing community, Sweet Tea and Friends and also Senior Salon Pit Stop .
Carol this is beautiful. I loved hearing about your grandmother and your trips to meet with cousins. What a treasure.
Visiting today from SSPS 295 #100,101&102
Thank-you, Paula.
visiting from FMF22 My mom made a similar difficult journey from the netherlands, but she made it back, and siblings came to visit. Planes made it a much easier journey later on. having family so far away was sometimes very difficult for her.
Brave women. On my husband’s side, his grandmother & grandfather came over from the Netherlands, welcomed by Dutch friends. Eventually they were able to establish a small farm.
We owe so much to those that have gone before us. It’s astounding to think of the bravery it took to make the journey. Thanks for sharing this with us today.
FMF#13
My grandmother passed away when I was four years old. One day I will meet her again in heaven.