A Slice of Home: The Blessing of a Shared History and Connections

I had the most unexpectedly wonderful morning! It’s a new year and I wanted to make sure to set off on the right foot by going to church despite the rain. I started attending this current church last April and have been thoroughly enjoying each gathering and every message. I truly look forward to going every Sunday. We had been at our previous church for over thirty years. Our kids were raised there; I was involved in various ministries, including helping with infants and toddlers, to volunteering with middle schoolers, and then finally with women. I led Bible studies for twenty-six years and oversaw the women’s ministry at various times. I know a lot of special people because of this amazing church. Despite all these blessings, something began stirring in me and I felt led to try a new place of worship. I only know a handful of people so far, and everyone seems so authentically lovely. Before the service begins, my husband and I usually find our seats and say a brief hello to people in the neighboring aisles.

Today was different in the most heartwarming way. Today I went solo and I ran into one of my friends from previous Bible study classes. She introduced me to her husband and one of her dear friends, as they all came together. We took our seats, with them in the row behind me.

After service was when things really got interesting. You see, I know my friend not only from Bible study, but we have another connection, which we discovered one day at Bible study. I had been on stage sharing a message and a photo of my grandparents and me was displayed on the large screen. When I stepped off the stage my friend came up to me and said she recognized my grandparents! Her parents had been good friends with my grandparents (my Dad’s side), and she also knew my aunt from high school. My grandpa even played drums in the band at her wedding reception. (So, this was a connection with her husband too.) I also remember putting on a show for her parents by singing into my jump rope one evening—as every little girl does.

As we were discussing this, the friend who came with her referenced her involvement with another church in town. I then mentioned that my grandparents (Mom’s side) had been on the elder’s board there in the 1970’s. She asked their names, and yep, we found another connection! She knew my maternal grandparents and my aunt and mom too. Apparently, her mom was very close with my grandma, and she remembered details of our family from long ago!

While we reminisced, they pointed to another woman standing behind us and said that she would probably know my family too. Sure enough, she did. Her mother had also been very good friends with my maternal grandparents way back then. I remember her mother and I still have the baby shower card she gave to my mom when I was born.

This may sound confusing, but I hope you get a glimpse of what an overwhelming blessing this was to connect with people who knew my family—on both sides— from so long ago. We shared a history with the people I love. It brought me back to my childhood and I felt the warmth of nostalgia wrap around as we hugged and reminisced some more.

We keep family alive by sharing stories with each other. I was overflowing with joy as I left church today.

We’ve made plans to look for each other in the future and to sit together at an upcoming event.

Side note: a few weeks ago, as I walked through the church parking lot, I looked up and noticed a sign that had the name and established year of my grandpa’s old linoleum store. It is apparently still in business.

It’s feeling very much like a slice of home.

Even if this doesn’t quite make sense to you, I had to get it down on paper for myself.

God puts blessings all around us as reminders of His love.

Psalm 21:6, “Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence.”

(Grandpa was being silly)