...the love of grandparents unites all things....

"To feel the love of people whom we love is a fire that feeds our life. But to feel the affection that comes from those whom we do not know, from those unknown to us, who are watching over our sleep and solitude, over our dangers and our weaknesses--that is something still greater and more beautiful because it widens our the boundaries of our being, and unites all living things." Pablo Neruda, From "Childhood and Poetry"

I never knew my great grandfather, Earl Hunt. He passed away when I was too little to remember anything about him. I remember when I was a child, I would look at his pictures and sit very still and try to go back into the recesses of my brain to just see if I could remember anything about thim. My mind would always go blank, except for the many wonderful things that I was told about him. I feel that I knew my grandmother, Martha Helen Hunt as well as I possibly could at the time. She passed away when I was 15, and althought I think I knew a good portion about her, when I think about how well I know my grandmother at this time in my life, my interest in my great grandmother pales in comparision to the knowledge I have of my grandparents now. What a treasure I lost by a lack of interest. From everything that has been spoken about my great grandparents, their love for each other, and their love for Jesus, books couldn't contain the amazing qualities of both of them.

From what I have been told, my great grandma wanted to be a missionary. She was 18 at the time, had her bags packed and was ready to leave and my great-great grandfather wouldn't let her go. He refused. I think she saw her dreams quickly fading and went through a sort of hell. She didn't know what she wanted to do besides this. She met a man named Earl, found herself pregnant with my grammy and was quickly a bride and new wife. As far as I know, she never found herself on the mission field. BUT one thing is for certain, her love for Jesus never faded. He had a hold of her heart and wasn't letting go.

My great grandmother used to tickly my back and read to me when I would spend time at her house. She always had lemon drops, piano scrap paper and the best books. She would play with my hair as I would suck my thumb on her lap. She would lightly "tickle" my back and read me a Sesame Street book. The last page of this book had Big Bird being handed a tigerlily flower by one of his friends. To this day, this is my favorite flower and was the reason I carried a bouquet of these down the isle on my wedding day. It reminds me of my great-grandmother.

She was the first person who introduced me to Christ. I had always grown up knowing the bible stories and that Jesus loved me. But she was the one that put salvation into words. The love that she had for others showed the love of Jesus. She made Jesus real to me. My granny Jean made Jesus real. And my mother made Jesus real. Great Grandma was the leading examply of strong Godly women. What more could a child ask for?

She used to sit her chair and knit. And crochet. And knit some more....

My great-grandmother has been gone over 10 years. A couple of months back, my grandma was going through her attic. She found a bunch of my grandmothers yarn in a huge box. She asked me if I would like to have it. The other alternative was that it was either going to be donated, or it was going in the trash. Being the eco-friendly person that I am I couldn't see it heading to the dump. We took it home after one visit. It sat in the upstairs bedroom for many months, not being touched.

Then one day a 8th grade student at Merge, our student youth group, had an idea to start a knitting party at the Avenue. She had a big dream to get a group together to knit hats for those in the Dayton area who were homeless. Many times that dream was ignored but she persisted. I caught wind of the idea and I felt the spirit moving...Kim....you have a bunch of yarn with your great grannies name all over it. She wants you to use this for good.....Jesus wants you to use this for good.....

Needless to say, we had our first knitting party last Saturday. We had over 18 girls attend to learn and fellowship with one another. We had 7 adult women come to help. Over 2/3 of my great-granny's yard was taken by 13 and 14 year olds. To knit for the.....homeless.

I know that my great-grandmother would be proud of each and EVERY one of these wise ladies knitting for those individuals that are so close to Jesus' heart. It makes me even more grateful that I was one of those ladies at one time, sitting on my great grannies lap, having my back tickled and the love of Jesus being showered over me while I was spending time with my great grandmother. What I wouldn't give to know her now......