One family reunion has passed with the wind up of the gathering of my mother's nieces and nephews and their families. When Granny died in 1954, her children planned to get together every fourth of July. They knew that they might not often see each other if they did not have a set time to meet. As often as they were able, they assembled each Independence Day as long as they lived. Now that generation have all passed away and their children and grandchildren meet at the church where our grandparents were faithful members. It was there, during the first week in August of 1893, that they both had professed faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior and were baptized the same day at the close of that 'Protracted Meeting'. They were married four years later.
Grandpa's great-niece, Julie, wrote this telling comment when we were pursuing our mutual genealogical efforts: "One thing I'd like to say about our quest for family roots, is that I am thrilled how our family has passed on Christian teachings to their children through the years. It remains a very important part of our lives, thanks be to God."
"Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life; but teach them to thy sons, and thy son's sons."-- Deuteronomy 4:9 KJV