Who Are Your People

When I was a newly engaged 22 year old we went to an engagement party in my husbands home town. Said town has now been my home for almost three decades. One of my mother in laws neighbors excitedly introduced herself. After interviewing me about the wedding plans, and mutual acquaintances from our college alma mater, she tilted her head "Well you are just lovely. Now tell me, darling, who are your people?" 

After shielding my eyes from a blinding gaze of sparkling diamonds I explained I grew up in Virginia. She quickly frowned and said "Ohhh". I anxiously said "My Mother is from Eastern North Carolina. All of my family is in Halifax County. I spent my summers in Enfield". The smile returned . "Wonderful! What is your Mothers maiden name?" It seemed that my Mothers geographical  lineage made up for my lack of pedigree. Thank you, God, for Jane Condrey and Halifax County.

If you grew up in Eastern North Carolina, or probably any rural Southern area, you know that family names are important. It doesn't matter if your family was flat broke or full of undesirables. If your name was associated with the wealth of cotton, tobacco, or textiles prior to the Great Depression and proceeding the Civil War? You were golden. 

There was no one of importance in my family except my Mothers father. I'm not a descendant of the first Governor of NC or a national donut chain like my husband. My grandfather owned many sawmills and cotton gins. As legend has it my grandfather was the first  family, in their tiny town, to have electricity. 

My grandfather died unexpectedly when my Mother was 2 years old.  The Great Depression left my Grandmother penniless with two children under the age of 5.  With no skills and no money Nana took in boarders in her big house. She never had a checking account. 10% of her earnings went to the Baptist Church every single week.  

Despite her monetary loss Nana made sure that her children had the best education possible. My uncle graduated from Chapel Hill Magna Cum Laude. My mother followed suit 4 years later graduating Sum Cum Laude from Meredith College. They both spent a semester studying in Europe.   They both earned graduate degrees from George Washington University. To this day my Nana is one of my biggest heroes. She truly believed that God would provide. And He did.

I remember the first assembly meeting in August of my sophomore year of college. I attended the same all girls school that my aunt, great aunt , and several cousins had. This was much to the chagrin of my Mother. She wanted me to attend her alma mater. The other all girls college in the same city. During that assembly our Dean of Students asked all of the debutantes to stand in recognition. I was one of the few who remained seated. You see my Mother had been asked to deb. She had declined because my Nana was unable to afford it.  Therefore I was not a legacy. 

In that moment, during  that hot August morning, I felt less than. Not good enough. And quite frankly a little upset with my "people".  I was simply a normal girl from, what used to be, rural Virginia who happened to be madly in love with a sweet,soft-spoken Southern boy. We were getting married. That was my bloodline.

Now if you asked me today, 28 years later, "Who are your people?" I would likely respond "I am the daughter of the King. The important One. The One of  the Most High. He currently resides at the right hand of his Father On the Throne". 

You see what I've learned is that family does matter. But there is only one bloodline of importance. One legacy. If Jesus is your Lord and Savior you are part of a Royal Bloodline. So I will boldly ask you "Who are your people?"

"For you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light"-1 Peter 2:9