Norfords' Ramblings

Saturday January 17, 2009

When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. Acts 20:36.

Today I have been putting together a schedule for our three daughters, our granddaughter and husband and our two year old grandson when they join us for a week together here in England. A friend has kindly offered to host them in her old smithy cottage (five bedrooms—some cottage!). Lot of people to ferry around, meals to think of, not much time and lots of places and people to see. So arranging transportation and fitting in with schedules here at the guest house in Worthing is more challenging than a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle.

But the greater the challenge, the greater the reward when it is overcome. Certainly, we are overjoyed that our family from various parts of the world is able to join us, and the challenge in arrangements is matched by the efforts they have made to be with us. In fact, the success of this venture depends, like players in an orchestra, on close cooperation from all of us. Knowing our family, I am sure this time will be one to remember.

Of interest to the family particularly, are the old haunts that Ann and I frequented in our youth and early married days before we emigrated to Canada in 1965. Although the church we were married in has been torn down and rebuilt, almost all the places from our childhood and later years remain unchanged. Our eldest daughters may remember some of them from their childhood.

I wonder what differences our children and grandchildren will see in us once they have seen our roots? They may also feel their own identity shift a little from this experience. Above all, we trust that their roots in the Christian faith may become sharper as we see some spiritual reminders from our past. Paul prayed with the Ephesians on his last visit with them and his prayers touched their hearts. One day we will find out how our prayers, the prayers of our parents and relatives gone before, and the prayers of our children and grandchildren, have played in shaping the life we bequeath to them.