Character
I had the distinct honor and joy of having two wonderful grandmothers—Elma and Ragnhild. Born in the early 1900s, both lived into their 90s and made significant deposits of time, love, and wisdom into my life.
Elma married Jeff at the outset of the Great Depression, beginning their life together in a season of real hardship. They bounced from South Dakota to California to Washington in search of work, eventually settling in the Pacific Northwest with their two daughters—one being my mom. Grandma worked tirelessly to care for the family. Grandpa worked hard too, yet carried demons he never quite overcame.
Ragnhild married Bernt, a fellow Norwegian immigrant she met in Alaska’s fishing world. They too married as the Depression began, had one child (my dad), and struggled along with life—making a home for themselves in 1930s Kirkland, Washington. Grandpa was gone half the year fishing, while Grandma stayed home raising their boy.
By the time I came along, my grandmothers had become women of grit and toughness—yet kind and tender.
They were women of admirable character. My grandpas were, simply, characters.
I don’t share this to demean my grandfathers. I share it because it saddens me that they could have been stars in the eyes of their grandson, yet ended up remembered more for personality than for character—while my grandmothers are remembered for virtues that shaped me in positive and lasting ways.
Good character is formed by good habits. Good habits are formed when we replace what doesn’t shape character with what does.
Grandma Elma and Grandma Ragnhild chose that path. Grandpa Jeff and Bernt were broken by bad ones.
Character—the good kind—is not only something that can be developed; it’s something our Creator is committed to forming in us. It’s not something we muster up on our own, but something we partner with through transformational change.
Ironically, we can also choose not to change.
I believe that deep down, you—like me—want to be remembered the way I remember my grandmothers: as people of deep character who made lasting and impactful deposits in others.
So let me ask—what is one good habit that could replace an unhealthy one today?
Encouraging you to go for it! Commit and that habit will become something that not only shapes your life meaningfully…it will inspire others to see and experience what lasting greatness actually is!
Thank you - both of you - Grandma! I miss you. I’ve never forgotten…
Peace~
Craig
