Rather than...

He bought me this bear for my 20th birthday. He had graduated from college and I was headed back for another year. He said he knew I would think that the bear was cute. He wrote me a note that said his name was Rather. I laughed and asked what kind of name was that. He smiled his boyish charm at me and explained. The bear would be at school with me "Rather" than him. In all of its sillyness, my heart smiled.

The bear returned to college with me. He made his way to our first house. He stayed with me through the first daughter. He lived in the guest room for a while until she was old enough to ask. I told her his name was Rather. She laughed and asked what kind of name was that. I told her the whole story. She kept him with her until her sister was old enough to notice him.

When the middle one asked the older one about him. She told her that his name was Rather. Of course her sister laughed. She asked what kind of name was that. The older one explained the whole story. Passing on a little glimpse of the parents. A story that she knew and could share.

The same thing happened with the little sister. The middle one didn't let the bear go as easily. She kept him for a while. But I remember when she gave him over. When the story was retold yet again to explain why the bear was to be taken care of. Watching it all made my heart smile again.

In my cleaning and moving around, I found Rather again. I put him in the newly created upstairs guest room. The bedroom that ended up unused after the events of the summer. He sits on the bed. Waiting to share his story. A part of our story that gets to be passed on to yet another generation.

I will open my mouth with a parable; 

I will utter hidden things, things from of old- 

things our ancestors have told us. 

We will not hide them from their descendants; 

we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy 

deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders 

He has done... to teach their children, 

so the next generation would know them,

 even the children yet to be born, 

and they in turn would tell their children. 

Psalm 78:3 - 4, 6.