Pass it on

Posted by Guest | January 21, 2009 | 11 Comments

Can you feel the love in the air? Chelle’s guest post will bring you a bigger smile than pink & white Valentine M&Ms. Her previous Segullah post can be found here(which will also make you smile) and you can enjoy her fresh, positive personality at There she goes…

Do you want to know what I love about this picture??

Everything.

You see, this is a picture of my grandparents, Lloyd and Theora Hammer.

This picture? It is a treasure in my life.

They are gone now (watching Jazz games and cheering on their favorite team from Heaven, to be sure)

This picture is lovingly displayed in my home.

It is a constant reminder of so many things.

But most of all,

it symbolizes

hope.

Such a young couple (if I remember correctly, she was just 16 when they married).

And so lucky in love. Take a moment and look at the expression on her face, and his. Pure joy.

I love the pleased and amused (yet knowing) smile from a mother… observing this giddy, hopeful, unbridled display of emotion. All because they’d found each other. They were in love.

And that gives me Hope.

It comes from observing and knowing that my grandparents loved,

and loved,

and loved each other,

til the end (of their earthly journey, at least. I know that they are together. Love does not end).

In this life, there was marriage, and children (4 boys!), and ups, and downs, and choices. They didn’t always know that Mormonism was their path. They questioned for a while and figured that part out together. And in the end, their faith was strong.

They always, always chose love and loyalty to each other, above all else. They left a legacy that my parents have chosen to follow.

Loyalty. Devotion. Love.

Hope.

It comes from knowing that there are marriages that last. And that hope is part of the legacy passed on to me.

Yes.

I will embrace all that has been passed on, so lovingly, to me. The love, the devotion and the faith. It is my heritage.

And my hope?

That I will continue to choose well.

Loyalty. Devotion. Love.

(above all else.)

And pass these things on.

To our children.

To our grandchildren.

Simply

pass it on.

Category: Daily Special

Comments

11 Responses to “Pass it on”

Michelle Glauser
January 21st, 2009 @ 10:36 am

Lovely.
Michelle L.
January 21st, 2009 @ 1:02 pm

I love this. Marriage isn’t always easy but there is so much virtue in loyalty, devotion, in CHOOSING to love. Our modern world needs examples of happy marriages to follow– thanks for giving me three happy couples to model my marriage after.
Justine
January 21st, 2009 @ 1:38 pm

I love it! I absolutely love it. I know that happiness, and I find myself always trying to find it in my life. It’s so gratifying to feel, and so powerful to pass on.

Thank you.
Tamlynn
January 21st, 2009 @ 3:58 pm

Very nice. I recently completed a family history photo collage in my house. You know, tons of b&w photos in mismatched frames that somehow seem cohesive in their composition? Yeah, I know, everyone has one. But I love seeing my ancestors every day. They remind me that what I am experiencing is not unique, is possible and is joyous.
Melissa
January 21st, 2009 @ 4:03 pm

What a wonderful picture! Thanks for sharing it with us.
mormonhermitmom
January 21st, 2009 @ 4:16 pm

Le Chiam!
Leslie R
January 21st, 2009 @ 5:02 pm

Thank you Chelle. I loved this post on your blog.

In a world where love and marriage is defined in so many forms and fashions, this image captures and creates meaning all by itself. My favorite part is the gentleman on the far right. You can tell the love affects him. And your words speak to a generation that needs gentle reminders that love is a slow-growing devotion, day after day, month after month, ripple upon ripple. And at first, love is two feet kicking in the air with glee.
wendy
January 21st, 2009 @ 10:20 pm

Beautiful. The picture makes me smile. Your words made me tear up. Thank you for this!
Sue
January 22nd, 2009 @ 12:17 am

Great, great pic! And an even greater legacy!!
alanna
January 22nd, 2009 @ 8:27 am

Thank you. We need more celebration of marriage in our day!
What a beautiful photograph. The only ones I have of my ancestors are formal (non-smiling) poses. I feel like their manners come through, but not who they are. I would love to see them in candid moments.
Sage
January 27th, 2009 @ 9:30 pm

Wonderful photograph. What a lovely treasure. My husband has a photo of his grandfather and grandmother (who died when his father was eight) that reminds me of this. They are sitting on a car, she is below him looking up at him with a look of love on her face and he is smiling down at her. How beautiful!

My husband and I don’t have many photos of us together. We just celebrated our 18th anniversary on Monday. I love that one of the comments recognized that loving is a choice. Even in marriage that begins with “falling” in love, it takes conscious effort to build a loving and lasting relationship.

Yeah for marriages that are filled with love!