Happy New Year!!!
Well, I know the new year technically started on the first of the month; but January 21st is my grandpa Garrett’s birthday, and it always signals a new start for me. If living, my grandpa would have been 105 this year. Garrett Carroll was a godly man. Every year I try to plan a family reunion around his birthday to honor the Lord for our godly family heritage.
This year, the night before our reunion, I felt so aware of four things about our precious family:
1. Who we are as a family
2. What we are called to do
3. When we are to do what we are called to do
4. Where we have come from
4. Where we have come from
So, I presented to my family:
The Who, What, When and Where of our family
1. Who are we?
I am so aware of who is with us and who is not with us.
Meeting here today, we are together as the Carroll clan. I am so thankful you are here with us. Part of our clan, those not with us, have become witnesses: Geraldine, Billy, Garrett, and most recently, Lola Mavis. We have the hope of being with them again.
2. What Carrolls are called to do:
In our family, we have been called to love the Lord with all our hearts, to raise children, keep homes, to farm, to garden, to lead people, to love people, to serve people, to listen, to see, to hear, to speak, to work with our hands, to strengthen hearts and minds, to pastor, to teach, to labor, to be business owners, to be entrepreneurs, to be lawyers, to care for the poor, to extend help to the oppressed, to stand up for injustice, to share better ways, to hold people up, to encourage, to write, to manage and plan. Each one of us has been individually called, then grafted into an eternal plan. I believe that as a family, we are heralds – official messengers bringing news.
3. When do Carroll’s bring news – because we have good news to share!
Day by day, in the daily rhythms of life. With new year resolutions, we set goals for the year: but I am convinced, it is a day-by-day decision that we make to continue our godly heritage. Daily, Garrett talked to the Lord like we visit with others. Daily, our parents, Billy and Geraldine, read their well-worn Bibles, prioritized visits with family, and shared the Word of GOD with others. Daily, Marie kneels at her bedside to pray. Mavis would tell me every day we talked, ” I sure do love you.” Daily, Glenda Faye prepares food and serves others. I want to be about My Father’s business and the business of my forefathers:
Communing with the Lord
Reading His Word
Sharing The Word
Praying to the Lord
Living well
Loving others
Serving others
Communing with the Lord
Reading His Word
Sharing The Word
Praying to the Lord
Living well
Loving others
Serving others
4. Where Carroll’s come from:
Proverbs 13:22 says “A good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children…” Garrett and Mavis, Billy and Geraldine, came from humble and godly beginnings; but left us a spiritual, and a physical, inheritance. One of those will not pass away.
Today we celebrate our godly heritage of being a Carroll and thank The Lord.
1-21-2020
1-21-2020