By Heidi R. Fairbanks
Each generation works to make their children’s lives more blessed than their own. This is definitely true with my parents. My dad was the second oldest of ten children, and mom is the oldest of eight. Their parents worked diligently to ensure they had everything they needed: food, clothes, etc. My mom’s family, much to my surprise as a child, even lived awhile with no electricity and an outhouse, snakes and all. But still, they managed to be a strong family. Members of my mom’s family and dad’s family still get together every year because family is important to them.
I grew up as the middle child of seven children. There are four girls and three boys. Even though money was often tight, I rarely had a need that could not be satisfied. Mom had a large garden full of vegetables like squash, beans, carrots, and cabbage. She always grew zinnias and morning glories, too. Dad, of course, had to add to it so he was sure to plant sunflowers next to the cornstalks. My siblings and I feasted on fresh vegetables during the growing season and canned vegetables in the winter.
Even though Mom and Dad were not able to buy us everything we wanted, (Nintendo games, cassettes, etc.) they always provided us with something more special and priceless: their time. One of my fondest memories of my dad was watching him read the Bible at the kitchen table while munching on a tomato from mom’s garden. He had spent countless hours studying and, yes, even writing in his Bible. He often shared what he learned with us. Dad even took us to local water holes, taught us how to load film into a camera, and dared to ride with seven new drivers after each one received his or her license. Mom’s time was more “behind the scenes.” She spent hours cooking meals that, even on my best day, I could not recreate. With seven children, there were always dishes and clothes to wash, especially on snowy afternoons when school was closed for the day. We learned to be valuable members of a family and help with these household chores. Without an electric dishwasher, we were the dishwasher.
I have learned many lessons from my parents. One of the most important lessons is that people put their love, time, and money into what they value like religion, family, and education. Because of this, one generation sacrifices their wants and sometimes their needs so that the next generation can have a more abundant life. My parents definitely did this for my siblings and me, for which I am grateful. I am also grateful that God has provided my husband, Aaron, and me the opportunity to make the lives of the next generation, including our son, Andrew, better than our own.