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Life is an amazing gift. How my grandmother lived her life always makes me smile. I don’t recall her ever having a bad day or if she did I never knew it. What I do remember was her desire to enjoy every moment and how my time with are some of the most enjoyable experiences of my life. The white house on the Hollow was the central point for family events and I loved spending time there. Grandma acted as young as we were. She always had the time to play kickball in the back yard, splash around in the pool, and go to the creek to catch crayfish or slide down a snow covered hill on a plastic garbage bag. Grandma was a powerhouse in the kitchen and no one got in the way and everyone got to help if you wanted to.
She mediated fights and brought peace to the family (right Stacie, Amie and Shannon?). As a middle kid I was very insular and tried to keep to myself. Grandma would always come find me and talk, and found away with her power of persuasion to get me involved in the family functions, when I all I wanted to do was read books and listen to Metallica. She knew how to penetrate the shell I lived in and I always felt comfortable in her presence. I could never say no to her. She used to rub my back and talk to me about anything that came into her mind; her gentle spirit and loving touch made me feel so safe and secure.
Above all else I remember her undying love of God. She lived the conviction of her faith and it shined in everything that she did. It was with Grandma the day I accepted the Lord, and I remember her watching on the day I was baptized. In college she always sent me the monthly devotional and encouraged me to pray everyday. She would talk to me about how I was going to marry a good Christian girl and preach the gospel. While my life is farthest from her vision, she taught me that you need to believe in something and live by it no matter how hard things might get.
For Christmas in 1988 she gave me a bible and the inscription reads, “I love you very much and I pray for you everyday. Proverbs 3:5&6.” The Proverb says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understand. In all ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy path.” This bible sits in my office and I often take it out and read the inscription and the verse. I am doing that a lot more these days as I think of her.
While I am sad she is no longer with us, I know she is where she always wanted to be. She talked about not fearing death because you go to be with the Lord and life is better and there are no worries or fears. I know she is in a better place, reunited with Grandpa and I hope they are having one hell of a good time.
She mediated fights and brought peace to the family (right Stacie, Amie and Shannon?). As a middle kid I was very insular and tried to keep to myself. Grandma would always come find me and talk, and found away with her power of persuasion to get me involved in the family functions, when I all I wanted to do was read books and listen to Metallica. She knew how to penetrate the shell I lived in and I always felt comfortable in her presence. I could never say no to her. She used to rub my back and talk to me about anything that came into her mind; her gentle spirit and loving touch made me feel so safe and secure.
Above all else I remember her undying love of God. She lived the conviction of her faith and it shined in everything that she did. It was with Grandma the day I accepted the Lord, and I remember her watching on the day I was baptized. In college she always sent me the monthly devotional and encouraged me to pray everyday. She would talk to me about how I was going to marry a good Christian girl and preach the gospel. While my life is farthest from her vision, she taught me that you need to believe in something and live by it no matter how hard things might get.
For Christmas in 1988 she gave me a bible and the inscription reads, “I love you very much and I pray for you everyday. Proverbs 3:5&6.” The Proverb says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understand. In all ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy path.” This bible sits in my office and I often take it out and read the inscription and the verse. I am doing that a lot more these days as I think of her.
While I am sad she is no longer with us, I know she is where she always wanted to be. She talked about not fearing death because you go to be with the Lord and life is better and there are no worries or fears. I know she is in a better place, reunited with Grandpa and I hope they are having one hell of a good time.
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