The time has finally come for my Grandma to find some peace, as she found eternal rest on Tuesday, November 30th. She did so peacefully, and surrounded by family and prayer. Last night at the service, I shared some of my own thoughts and remembrances of Grandma:
In the past few weeks I’ve had some time to reflect on my grandmother’s life, my life, and how the two intertwine. For so many years I wondered why Granny sat around documenting, scrapbooking, and studying family trees. So please if you do anything tonight, take some time to look over the photos and books she left as a legacy, this was her quiet expression of who she was. As her life comes to a close here on Earth, I’m so thankful for those beautiful, heartfelt words she expressed on paper about her childhood, schooling, marriage, her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, employment, retirement, and the death of loved ones. The photos she kept, the books, logs of important dates in her life-cards gifted to her through the years that were sentimental, or gave her a good laugh.
She was an amazing woman, not just to me-but to so many people. An unwavering mother, patient grandmother, a quiet woman who kept most thoughts to herself, but reflected her feelings more in actions-such as doing a load of laundry, folding countless piles of clothes, baking or cooking for someone, always a willing babysitter to grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She truly was a woman of infinite wisdom. She always put things into perspective due to her life experiences; unfortunately perspective doesn’t make a whole lot of sense until you’re a grown adult. You know that, “I guess my parents/grandparents did know what they were talking about after all” moment. I was so fortunate to spend a large part of my childhood with both Grandma and Grandpa; some might say too much time. Granny would sit for hours coloring, playing cards, watching tv, really “playing” with me. I was blessed for every moment with her.
It doesn’t matter how old or young, sick or healthy, the pain of a loss of life this important is not to be dismissed. She knew the values of family and faith she instilled in all of us would help to bear this burden. This past weekend she left us with some brief moments of lucidity, speaking in sentences-something she hadn’t done in years. The few words she said, reassured all of us that she knew the journey that lay ahead, and she was fully prepared. Grandma gave us a gift in both life and death; on the day of her death she was granted the serenity of leaving this world peacefully, with family nearby. Teaching us that while death is difficult for those on Earth to understand, faith will get you through, and it’s just another milestone in “life” for those passing onto Heaven. In a few short moments I witnessed tears, comfort, family unity, and prayer; faith happens in people and places when you least expect it and Grandma helped us to see that in those last few moments.
