My Grandma will be 98 in a couple of weeks. She is one of the most amazing, beautiful women who ever graced the face of the planet Earth! She has always been one of my role models for life. My Uncle always called me “Little Miss Grandma” because he thought I looked like my grandma. Over the course of the years I have seen that I am very much like her in many ways. I am basically Grandma’s clone – “Mini Grandma”.
Grandma has inspired me, taught me, and led by example. She worked as a nurse until she was 75 years old, never missing a day of work, often working double shifts. She taught ladies Bible study classes for years. She took many mission trips to Mexico, inspiring the doctors in her church to go as well. She tended a huge vegetable garden and yard full of fruit trees, providing canned vegetables, fruit, and preserves to anyone who needed it. She made quilts and blankets for every baby born in her town, for every college graduate, and for every newly married couple! She did it all quietly and consistently my whole life.
Her life epitomizes the verse in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light shine in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven.” Grandma’s light shines brightly to this day.
And Grandma is a writer! She has kept a journal, starting when she was recovering from the death of her first-born son during childbirth until just a couple of years ago. She wrote in her journal every day.
A couple of months ago we brought some of her journals home. She wrote simply of her days – work, grocery shopping, quilting, gardening and going to church. As I was reading through them I noticed something amazing. Nearly every entry in her journal began with the words, “It was a beautiful day.” She lived her life with that attitude. I think she has discovered the secret to longevity!
One journal entry struck me as I was reading:
“A beautiful day. I went to Sunday School and Church. Pastor preached on ‘The Real Thing’, Micah 6:8, ‘He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.’”
That’s exactly how Grandma has lived her life. She’s the real thing! She has lived a beautiful life and I have been blessed because of it. Happy 98th Birthday Grandma! I love you very much!
“The light of the righteous shines brightly” Proverbs 13:9
And you are going to be every bit as beautiful when you turn 98!!
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful, Laura! I feel cleansed just thinking about her. Today really is a beautiful day, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteJack
I've also heard it be said your the image of "Auntie Fern" (as I have always called her).
ReplyDeleteWhen I was little I used to think to myself that I wanted to 'look' like her when I was 'old' because she had beautiful long hair (which I never saw down because she kept it up in a bun but they told me it was to her waist) She SO impressed me as a child because she would have on casual jeans and wore Keds tennis shoes... I liked that she kept her hair long and not in a stiff hair sprayed boof cut and didn't wear polyester pants and flat big shoes. :) For some reason that just really made an impression on me as a child. Go figure! I loved roaming through her house... little trinkets and gorgeous, unique quilts... I remember one she was working on was made out of ties!!!Someone had sent her their husbands old ties, a huge box full and she was making a quilt out of them!
She is beautiful, humble, gentle, kind, quite, sweet and she is a light that shines. She lives a life that is above reproach.
Mamaw lived to be 94...this old age just runs in the family. Good strong Genes ...built to last and can outrun and outlast ANYTHING... our grandmas side of the family have a legacy of God's grace and kindness, love, goodness and again - very long life!
Wow...what an amazing woman!
ReplyDeleteLaura, your Grandmother looks fantastic! I also have a fantastic grandmother, age 96. Does this mean we are going to live forever?? Maybe we can be roommates. Maybe we can start a COF Oldies Home?
ReplyDeleteLaura,
ReplyDeleteI'm in it for at least say 100 years old (hope I'm blessed with the longevity genes from my Granny on my Dad's side)What do you say Laura, I'll meet you there! Give your Grandma a big birthday kiss from me and tell her thank you. Thank you for inspiring a person she has never even met.
Love,
Debbie
Your grandmother is beautiful, inside and out! What an inspiration!
ReplyDeletei love it! this is the best thing i've read in a long, long time. what an inspiration she is. will you tell her that, for me? what a gift to have all those years. i will think of what you have written for a long time. i'd love to hear more about her if you ever feel moved to tell us more. it is a beautiful day.
ReplyDeleteLaura, I know that anyone who was ever around Auntie, had to just love her and you have her same characteristics: gentle, always smiling, caring. She was always doing something creative and I loved her yard full of flowers. I have so many happy memories of Auntie that it would fill a book.I still have embroidered pillows, wall hangings and the Raggedy Ann dolls she made me over the years, prominently displayed in our home. We will be going to her 98th birthday party in a few weeks. Your are in our hearts and prayers, Laura. Mary Redman Emerson
ReplyDeleteLaura, you really do look like your Grandma!! You're both very beautiful! My great Grandma lived to be 109, shooting a deer for eating out of her garden! I bet you and your grandma will do the same... minus the deer story, ofcourse!
ReplyDeleteThere could never be a more beautiful you!
You're so right, living your life as an example... you've turned many heads lately!