In Honor of My Grandmother
This morning, one of my cousins shared a post on social media, memorializing our grandmother's home-going, thirty-five years ago today. All day, my mind has been filled with memories of her. She was quite the special woman to me.
Even though I had not even been on this earth for a decade when she passed, I can still recall much about her. Thankfully, I lived within walking distance from her home, and was blessed to visit her practically any time I wanted. Even before I could exercise that volition, my parents ensured that we frequented her home regularly.
Being the matriarch of a large family (eleven children, with multitudes of grand and great-grandchildren prior to her passing), she gifted all of us with one another. Due to that gift, shared memories of her are vast and wide. Many of the things I know of her have been due to my family's oral tradition.
Combining the family's collective stories with my personal memories, I can attest that this woman was a rare jewel. She had a way of making each of one us feel special, without inciting jealousy. She was an amazing chef, seamstress, quilter, farmer...The list goes on and on. Yet, without a doubt, she was the best grandmother a girl could have.
Though she was not one to tolerate foolishness, (I vividly recall her non-idle threat to correct me if I dared climb the apple tree in her back yard), she was tenderhearted. Thankfully, I have a photograph picturing one of my cousins and I brushing her long, silver hair, that normally she kept tidy upon her head in a bun (reminiscent of Corrie Ten Boom). Once I started kindergarten, I frequently caught the school bus from her house. Even if I had already eaten at my house, she made sure to feed me from her kitchen table, before I was allowed to wait outside for the bus. (It was from her table I gained my love of cottage cheese!)
Many a night I stayed at her home, always with another cousin (or more) to share in the delight of being at our grandmother's house! Many a meal, many a family gathering...So much joy did she bring to our family! She cherished us, and to this day none doubt her love.
She was a God-fearing lady. Her love for God undoubtedly motivated her ministry to her family; for that, indeed, was what she did--ministered. I do not know if she would call it such, but I definitely would! Listening to others' accounts of her listening ear, advice, feeding the multitudes of family and friends, being sure to let the family know what God expects of them, and more, her life was a living testimony.
I cannot tell you how often I miss her. Every day I pass by her picture hanging upon my wall. I wonder what advice she would share with me. I long to sit a spell and hear her recount many a story. I am sure she would have much to give, seeing as this year would have been her 109th on the earth, were she still with us. I miss her, greatly. Even now, tears threaten to fall from my eyes. However, this one thing for which I am certain: I will see her again. She is not dead, but living. God is not God of the dead, and she is more alive now than she was here below.
"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates."
Proverbs 31:10-31
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"Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." Colossians 4:6