ELLEN MORTENSEN

While visiting our middle son and his family in Lincoln this past weekend, I had an opportunity to share some quality time one morning on the front porch, sipping my coffee with my youngest granddaughter. She decided it would be fun to play a game where she was the teacher and we were her students; and with as much matronly authority as she could muster, she proceeded to ask us each a question. 

She sat with her notebook and pencil in hand, carefully transcribing our responses (which of course were legible only to her), when she looked at me and asked: “Gramie - what kind of person are you?” 

Her little blue eyes stared patiently at me, waiting for an answer, while I’m sure I had a deer-in-the-headlights gaze looking back at her. Not only was this an extremely profound question to come from a 4-year-old, but to be honest, I didn’t know how to answer it! What kind of person am I? 

I found myself beginning to do a deep assessment of myself to try to summarize in a brief statement what kind of person I am. Meanwhile, my daughter-in-law thought for about 20 seconds before answering, “I’m the person who lowers her friend down through the roof to meet Jesus.” She’s right…that is exactly the kind of person she is, and I was struck by the fact that she recognized that about herself almost immediately. 

I eventually gave the canned response that one might expect a woman my age to give; I’m honest, dependable, blah-blah. To my surprise, I found myself wrestling with this little 4-year-old’s question all weekend. 

The message at the church we attended on Sunday, while a bit of a different topic, fit right in. The pastor talked about the legacy we leave when we are gone, and we all leave one. He shared about his great-grandfather, who was a member of the 6th Calvary and fought in the Indian Wars, including what came to be known as the Massacre at Wounded Knee - and how that history has shaped his family’s legacy. 

I began to think about my own family and my grandparents. My grandpa Holley was a native of Custer County and was an auctioneer for many years. I have always been a bit on the chatty side, and he was convinced I would be the next auctioneer in the family. Nope - not that legacy. 

Recently, I sat down with a box of belongings from my mom that I have stored since she passed away 17 years ago. As I sifted through old documents and paperwork, I discovered a treasure trove of writings. As it turns out, both of her parents, as well as her aunt and her grandmother, loved to write! Letters, poetry, it was eloquent and beautiful. No wonder I love words, I thought! 

It is unbelievable to me all the things that my mom and her mom kept. Journals, receipts, licenses, records of just about everything. All tell the story of a family who worked hard and were devoted to their family. My grandmother had letters written back home from her family members during World War I, safely tucked in her box of special things. 

Now I realize the box in the bottom of my closet holds the key to my legacy. I am the kind of person who loves to communicate, to use my words to try to make people and the world a better place, and who has an unwavering love for tradition and family. It just took the question of a 4-year-old to finally make me see it. 

What kind of person are you?