Remember a while ago when I wrote about my brother-in-law Pater Franz, the Jesuit in Germany? Well he is the little boy in this picture, with his oldest sister Isa who lived here in the states for thirty years and moved back to Hungary when communism fell. I have been looking at some old family photographs and thinking about all the things that would happen in the lives of these people that they had no idea about when the pictures were taken…..
Both these children would live through wars and revolutions and experience being refugees. Both, on different continents, would spend time in prison because of their actual or suspected political views.
It still feels astonishing to me as an American who was born at the end of WWII.
I think there is some sort of plan or pattern to all that happens, but I don’t think we really see it too well from where we stand. At least, I don’t think that I do……
I am always simply left feeling a deep gratitude for all the blessings I have been given. And a feeling that I should somehow bless others in some way. Perhaps this is all we can really know about life. Just put one foot in front of the other, with joy. I think of the verse from Micah which says, ” …And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?”
A Brother-in-Law and a Sister-in-law as children in the 1920s
It must be our age…I think of things like that so often also. I often feel I should have been born on the other side of the Atlantic, but my ancestors came to America and I arrived much later, a child born in America. I enjoy talking to Europeans my age who have lived such a different life. The beautiful lady in Normandy who made crepes for us and served them with her homemade apple jelly and fresh cider. She did it because we are Americans and our country helped her family so much when they lost everything in the war. We really need to be humble and appreciate all that we have been given.
That is an amazing, thought-provoking story. Wow.
Linda Jacks
One of my favorite verses!
And oh, I know. It’s like each of us must find the secret of gratitude for ourselves–it’s as though no one else can attach gratitude to us. And then the longer we walk in it, the more natural it becomes and feels and colors our whole world. At least, that’s what I’ve found. Great post! Blessings, Debra
I agree with you about there being a plan and pattern. If we saw it all now, we’d probably be afraid, I think. And like you, I am very grateful for what I have, and want to bless others in some way. I’ve been praying for God to show me how.
[…] Here is a link to a post from the past which has a photo of Isa in the 1920s with her younger brother: https://thickethouse.wordpress.com/2010/11/12/nostalgia-forgive-the-short-sermon/ […]
That was not a hard sermon to take 🙂 Thank you, dear Kristi.