Thankful for the Greatest Generation

by | Nov 28, 2019 | Special Series | 2 comments

birthday_party_1.jpeg

Happy Thanksgiving! We hope you’re enjoying a wonderful holiday with your loved ones. Today’s article is another installment in our series of childhood church memories, and Sister Erin Light shines the spotlight on something that we can be very thankful for in our church — the fact that we benefit from having a wide span of ages interacting with and supporting one another.

One of the first questions out of my mouth as a child after Sunday service was not, surprisingly, “What’s for lunch?” It was, “Where are we going today?” That’s because, more frequently than not, Sunday afternoon was the time when Mom and Dad would decide to go visit someone from the branch who was elderly or sick.

In the San Diego Branch, when I was little, we had a large group of seasoned saints who all lived within a half-hour of the church building. I remember sitting on their couches, always being offered a cookie or some juice, but the best memories were the stories. Soft-spoken sisters and brothers, with years of serving God and a huge pile of blessings, were just waiting to share. I remember trying to hold in my excitement at hearing their stories of prayers answered and miracles that got them through poverty, family trials, sickness, or layoffs. At the end of our visits, Mom and I would sit together and hold hands as Dad said a prayer for them.

I had such a love for the older brothers and sisters from my youth, I think, perhaps because they always seemed so happy and proud of what their God had done for them. I never heard a complaint when we visited, as if the aches of this life weren’t a big deal, and they really just wanted to share their testimony. Wow! Can you imagine going through life and only having praises to share? It was incredibly inspiring to me in my youth.

Better yet, every year my grandparents, Brother Russ and Sister Lena Martorana, would fly out to California to spend a few winter months with us. This meant every Sunday after church we would go visit one of their friends who they had grown up with in the gospel. And I always tagged along. I remember the joy of my grandparents greeting their friends in Italian, “Hey, Fratello! Hey, Sorella!” After a warm embrace, they would catch up with multiple cups of coffee and biscottis like no time had been lost.

These brothers and sisters were from the Greatest Generation, the late 1900s to 1920s. They lived through the Great Depression and fought in WWII. And yet, in my eyes, they remained the happiest group of older adults I’ve ever met. I never heard a complaint out of them, no stories of their ailments, no grumbling about doctor visits, no worrying about financials. They had a love for a God that had provided for them year after year, through some of the most difficult American decades, and they only had the blessings of God on their lips.

This memory is one of my favorites. Somehow I got invited to tag along to a birthday party with these wonderful saints. I was the only attendee under age 60, and I like to think of this as the start of my career. This picture sits on my desk at work to remind me of people I love, stories I’ve heard, and what a joy it can be to serve the Lord for all your days.

birthday party 2

Every job I’ve worked post-high school has been with the oldest generations. I owe my passion for serving others to my parents’ example, who taught me the precious gifts that can be found while sitting under the sound of our older brothers’ and sisters’ voices. All but three of the loved ones pictured have gone on to their reward, but I can imagine they’re still praising and sharing stories of God’s grace in their lives even up in heaven — and greeting each new loved one who joins them with a big, “Hey, Fratello!”

Challenge: Over Thanksgiving weekend, make it a point to strike up a meaningful conversation with someone older than you.

Bio Erin

This article has undergone ministry review and approval.

Author

  • Erin Light

    Sister Erin lives in a quaint Southern California city nestled into the foothills of Orange County, just a quick drive to both the Irvine Branch and the beach.

    View all posts Administrator of a memory care assisted living community. Exploring local beach towns, cooking, painting, and being with God's wonderful people. Psalm 91.

2 Comments

  1. Linda Scolaro

    Beautiful blog, Erin. I had the privilege of living with my grandparents and we had many visitors because our home was within a few blocks from church. Their testimonies resonated with me and have shaped my faith today. God bless you for all the work you do with the elderly.

    Reply
  2. Janice Frammolino

    Like you, Erin, some of my best memories are the times I’ve spent talking with our “seasoned” saints. The elderly of our church have so much to share. I’d encourage many to spend time with them.

    Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Further Reading

God’s Unopened Messages

Distractions, the great divider of attention… the cause of driving accidents, burned lasagna in the oven (the horror), and thousands of lost hours playing Candy Crush or updating Pinterest.  I am distracted more often than not. And the concept of multi-tasking...

Read More

I Can Do All Things

Philippians 4:13 says that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. And I have to say, I believe it, but do I truly use the fullness of the meaning in my life? I work at an assisted living center where all the residents have memory impairments. They...

Read More

Never Miss a New Article

Subscribe to Our Email List
Sign up and get every new blog post sent straight to your inbox so you always have the day’s devotional at your fingertips.

We never share your email address with anyone for any reason, and we use it only to send you Gospel Blog emails. Just articles, not ads!

Your Story for God’s Glory

Share Your Testimony on Miracle Monday

We devote Miracle Monday to sharing miracle stories. From finding a lost wedding ring to healing cancer on the spot, Jesus Christ has done it all, big and small.

And we want to hear about what He’s done for you.

The Gospel Blog Is Open for Submissions

We encourage devotional-style or scripture-based articles in the ballpark of 500 words. We are open to any topic that glorifies God and unites the Church.