Some things have value beyond what they would sell for.
In my home that would be this :
It's an old fragile bible. Its binding is torn. Its leather is cracked. Too large to read and does nothing but take up space.
However, I wouldn't trade it for anything.
It is a keepsake from my Grandma and it reminds me of her in so many ways.
Frugal
My grandmother rescued this bible from the garbage bin. There was an orphanage that was shutting its doors when the government was closing it. No-one wanted this old bible so the director was just going to throw it in the garbage. My Grandmother thought that was a terrible waste, rescued it, and took it home.
My grandmother would never let something useful go to waste. Ever
She lived through hard time and had to fight for everything she had. It's something I'll never forget about her.
Legacy
The Bible went from my grandmother to my mother. Then when my mom got too old to read from it she gave it to me. In time I hope that one of my sons will get it from me.
When I look at that bible it reminds me that I pass things down to my children. Sure its just a book and nothing particularly valuable. However, I also pass my values, ideas, and all that I am down to my children. They are not me or copies of me, but I will live on through them. Legacy
Faith
My Grandmother was also a strong Christian. She mirrored the values held in that bible. Values that have been passed down through over 2000 years of history. I suppose that holds with legacy but its more than that. The faith of my Grandmother was evident in her life. It was something that was showed to me and I try to have the same faith that she had. In turn I hope that I can pass it to my children.
I'll admit that I will probably never be as frugal as strong in the faith as my grandmother was....but I'll honor her legacy and certainly try to be.
Family
How can I think of my Grandmother and not think of family? She was so important to me growing up. However in this case it is more than that. My grandmother prayed for me to find a wife every day for years (My personality and looks made finding a wife challenging). When she found I actually found a nice woman to be my wife she was overjoyed! At that time she was getting older and forgetful so she setup the dress she wanted to wear on a mannequin in her bedroom and wrote in lipstick on her dresser mirror the time, date, and place of the wedding.
She did it months in advance because she was so excited about it! I can never think of my wedding day without a thought of my Grandma.
Loss
Ultimately my Grandmother died only a short time before I got married. I can never think of my wedding day or that bible without thinking about the loss of someone I cared so much about.
The value in different opinions
My Grandmother and I didn't always see things in the same say. She was absolutely against any sort of Credit Cards or Debt. I love using credit cards to save money and smile every year when I see that the banks gave me $1000 or more back than I ever gave them in interest.
We certainly didn't always agree on things. However, I respected her opinion. She respected my opinion and in the end we often came to the conclusion that would we agree to disgree but we still loved and respected each other
There are many times in life, and even on Hive, when I find opinions I do not share. I know from my past that I may not share the opinion but I can still value the writer. I thank my grandmother for that.
Things change but they stay the same
Looking at that Bible it is a book that I will never read.
The language in it is outdated and difficult to understand. It is big, heavy and fragile. I look at it out of respect for the past but not as a tool for today. I try to read my Bible daily though. I just read one which is a newer English translation. Easier to understand. It's also as an app on my phone so I can take it with me anywhere and read anytime. Something a huge bible just can't do.
However, the message in the Bible hasn't changed for millenia. The words change, the audience changes, but the message never does.
So for the hive learners contest for a single photo. I present a picture of a Bible and the memories that it hold.
As a runner up photo though.
.....
A picture from my walk this morning.
In a busy world with so much going on its easy to forget that those people who work hard to feed us deserve far more respect than they get.
Here's a shout out to all those hard working farmers out there. Without them the rest of us wouldn't exist.
Thanks for reading!