Jewells of Thought

Being a Granddaughter of a prisoner of war never took hold of me until his death. Most of my decisions to be a curator of history including the Bible as well as Grandpa’s service time is because of his death when I was a teenager.

As I observed each day my story of the day on Facebook; a tool I have only begun to fully grasp and understand how to benefit from. I even thought I was finished on Sunday, yet people continued to like and hang on to my story. I have seen differing numbers each day 45 one day, 20, 16, then 30 they are all over the place. Yet I have an audience with my addition to my story. Freedom and what it means to have freedom was my story and it is resonating in my community.

My family is big. There were 6 Bishop siblings Grandpa Leo being the eldest then he also had 6 children. Grandma’s house was overrun by us at family gatherings. Family is important to us and I think it is important that we all know what Grandpa as our Patriarch of our Family experienced in war nearly 80 years ago. He couldn’t describe to us what he went through, I give him a little credit he had a lot of girls around him or rather ladies and war can be difficult to describe to feminine ears that you want to not be tainted by war and it’s filth.

It’s time to talk about it though, war is serious as well as devastating implications that can last through the line of families to grandchildren. In the Bible especially the Old Testament whole groups of people had to be killed in battle or someone like Haman could rouse an army under Ahasuerus in order to annihilate the Jews out of vengeance. This is from the story of Esther a Jewish Queen. The irony of God’s making yet without the use of any such word describing God in the story.

This is again what I love, relating the past with current life. Nothing in life is new under the son in terms of human nature. Grandpa was such an amazing example for his family. His letters speak to his attending Chapel even in war torn countries and details what chapters in the New Testament he was reading. My family needs to see his letters and see the fervor in his writing for being close to God while he was serving overseas, but also in his time afterward. He was faithful in his Church duties and didn’t like to miss Church and I know his children are very much like that from his loving example.

Goodness it is so hard for me to not get emotional. I am so encouraged by these stories and the difference I pray they are making. Hopefully God is at work in hearts over where they need to be personally in their life. I believe Grandpa was ready to meet Christ if that was God’s plan for him for his service.

Now it feels like my duty to be a curator of his Story to make sure it isn’t forgotten by our Family, Community or even our Country the sacrifices our Veterans have made for us!