Unexpected Treasures

I was blessed with a time capsule today.  My mom found a folder marked "Personal" that she had found stashed someplace at her house and in it were things from my past.  There were cards, pictures, legal documents,  and inspirational quotes that I had saved throughout my early adulthood.  What struck me were that these things represented so many things that have shaped my life both good and bad.  So many times I think our memories of the past  get repainted.  We tend to remember only the happy times or gloss over our mistakes but life is so much more intricate than that.

One of the treasures that I found were letters and cards from both of my parents.  They were sent during my time at the University of Georgia.  After reading them I was overcome with the realization that I have always had the support and love of parents that showed they cared throughout the good and the bad times.  In a letter from Dad, he had wrote one afternoon at the bank, he simply told me about how things were going at home.  He told me about the good, the bad, and the mundane but at the end he also told me "I am so proud of you."  How many kids could stand to hear that in today's world that never do . . .  Mom sent a card telling me she loved me and that she knew in her heart that God was preparing me for great things.  She gave me in that small card reassurance during a time in my life when I didn't know where I was going or what I was going to do.  Her faith in God and in me have been one of my anchors during some pretty stormy times.  I have been blessed with two Godly, compassionate parents who gave me a safe port and guidance.  I have always known they were special and I have always treasured my time with them but tonight made me realize and remember that I won't always have them but they will always be a part of me.

One of the quotes that I had stuffed in this folder was one that I had written in the margin of a page while sitting in an English class at Georgia.  It read, "If I have seen farther than others, it is because I have stood on the shoulders of Giants."  I don't know who wrote it but I definitely understand how they felt.