Photo Credit: inJesus.com

It was Sunday night when the doorbell rang.  The first of our family arriving to celebrate my Mom’s 89th birthday.  We gathered together spur of the moment because my sister was in town. Everyone had full schedules, so we made it simple – pizza and store bought sweet tea.  But the one crowning course of our meal was the cake.

Our daughter-in-love, Ashley, is amazing when it comes to baking and decorating cakes. When she asked for an idea for a theme to use – I suggested oranges.  You see, my Mom moved to Florida in 1922 when she was only 9 months old.  Her parents mortgaged their land in Oklahoma to come here and invest in citrus.  My grandparents planted two large groves in Lake County the following year, and this became their sole means of support  for decades – through the depression, the 2nd World War, and many Presidents until the groves were all killed in back-to-back freezes in the early 80’s.

We have fond memories of rotten orange fights, sweet homemade ambrosia and the best hide and go seek playground a kid could ever wish for.  It was a sad day for all of us when our beloved playground and family business was destroyed.  But the memories we have will never fade.

Imagine my Mom’s delight when Ashley brought in this cake:

A crate...cake full of oranges

We were all amazed.  And it tasted even better than it looks – it was orange flavored cake!  My Mom didn’t want to cut into it, so we took lots of pictures first. 🙂

But the best part of the night for me was when Bristol, (our oldest granddaughter, almost 4) snuggled up with Gigi on the couch.  My Mom now has 8 great-grandchildren, and they all adore her.  We captured a very special moment of one of the youngest among us showing honor to whom honor is due.

There will be a day when I am my Mom’s age and hopefully enjoying lots of great-grandchildren too.  This is why it matters how we build our marriages.  There are generations yet to be born who will need what God has shown us through all our years on this earth.  Make the most of the time, for as the Bible says…it is short!

We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,and the wonders that he has done.

Psalm 78:4

Who in your life is worthy of honor?  Take time this weekend to tell them.