The Oldest Thing in My House

It isn't worth much, but it's ours.

That's the note that my grandma (in her 90s) attached to the family bible, when she recently passed it down to my wife and I. It's her humorous way, I believe, of saying "this family has been through it, and we certainly aren't perfect". 

But this bible isn't about that.

There are 2 legacies here. The first being our imperfect family. As I've gotten older, I've appreciated who came before me even more. It's amazing to see the names and dates in this 100 year old Bible. To see the years, and think of what they must have gone through with the hindsight of history that I now have. And, with us planning to leave our names, thinking about what my child's grandchildren might think of us some day. We are this link in human history, and it really speaks to what this very bible says: "life is a vapor". I need to cherish it. 

The second legacy is this book/message itself. Family members have come have gone, and this exact copy has faded. But the message, the good news: never fades.