What My Great Aunt Taught Me

She was my father's aunt which made her my great aunt. I wish there were great and noble things to say about her, but there is not. And I wonder if God placed her within my father's family to show them and us siblings how to love. So I share this, not to shine a light on my great aunt's dark side, but perhaps to pay tribute to the bright side of her family. She was different, difficult, and odd; perhaps a bit challenged; but I'm not so sure that she was challenged; but clearly, she was very challenging. Sometimes we have to admit rather unpleasant things about our relatives; and we do our best to cover for them; but sometimes you just can't hide it. She had a nephew and three nieces within a 50 mile radius of each other; and between the four of them, she made her rounds on a regular basis, uninvited. I don't think she had her own home, because she often showed up, unannounced. And her many visits were not the usual kind that brought hugs, kisses, and family smiles.The things that I remember most of her, just to name a few, are selfishness, ingratitude, and a "Holier than thou mentality". I suspect my greatest lesson from her would be that we endeavored "not to be like her".The other lesson relative to her would be that she had relatives that were really angels. When I remember my parents and my father's sisters, I am proud of the love they shared. Perhaps many families have someone like my great aunt; a troubling one who is hard to love. I must confess that I only trust that my love and understanding extend as far as my father's. When I am called upon to offer love and mercy, be it relative or otherwise, may God be as pleased with me as He must have been with my father's family. 09062017 PS