As I sit here, I am
drawn to tears by how well you loved.
You would do anything
for any of your children, grandchildren or great grandchildren.
Today, I reminisce on your life.
From when I was six years old and I ran away from home to
go see you and Droopy, your basset hound dog. Your
house was at least seven miles away, but I was bound and determined to go see
you. I had not made it far in my trek, just a few blocks away from home; when the nice policeman picked me up from
the side of the road with my packed bag and all. Only to soon return home,
but mom and dad never did take me to see you that week.
I’ll never forget
our shopping trips to JC Penney outlet with mom and Penny. I don’t know how you guys ever made the time to shop for three hours
in one store, but you did every single time. The only thing that made up
for it was the chocolate I would always get while going through the checkout
lane.
Growing up I would
beg mom to go see you, papaw, and Courtney. Mom would sit in you and papaws
room and talk to you for hours, while Courtney and I terrorized the house.
Then, just when mom said she wanted to leave, I would hide somewhere in the
house to elongate the process of us being with you. I never wanted to leave.
I remember being
blessed every single Christmas by the gifts that you gave to all 14 grandchildren, whether it was the
newest toy or if it was a $20 bill. It always meant so much to me.
Every Christmas
party we would always ride up to Columbus together and I always remember
conversations we would have. You could
talk someone’s ear off for hours. I remember going to your 50th
wedding anniversary party and you and papaw celebrating so many years of
marriage.
I loved staying the
night at your house. I loved being able to spend time sitting and talking with
you and papaw then staying up until the wee hours of the night with Courtney. You and papaw had the best stories from
growing up.
I went at least two
years without seeing you from 2007-2009 and those are years I will never get
back. I remember always asking Courtney how you and papaw were doing because I
wanted to make sure that you were okay. I
remember the first time visiting you again, you opened up your arms to me and
welcomed me with the biggest smile and best kisses ever.
It hurt so much to
know that you were in a bed for the last several years of your life. That you
were not able to go out and shop and do what you did best. I couldn’t imagine
having to be on oxygen all the time and being in pain. You loved so well during
that time always having your arms wide open for visitors.
The greatest memory
that I will always treasure is the last time I saw you. It was this past May; I
had been so encouraged by your words that you spoke over me. You asked me about
my upcoming mission’s trip and how it was going. I told you how I was raising
support and that God had provided around $10,000 so that I could share of His
love while on The World Race. You told me that all you had ever wanted
was for your kids and grandkids to know Jesus. Then you said how you were
so encouraged by everything that I had been through and that I had found the
Lord. You told me to never give up; to
keep on sharing Jesus’ love and telling people about Him. That was the
first time anyone in the family encouraged me in my faith and I will always
treasure that moment. You were so excited for this journey that the Lord was
taking me on.
For two weeks while
I was in Nicaragua, I was frantically trying to call mom and Penny just to find
out any information on your progress. I think that between the two of them I
called them at least 40 times in one day. I finally got a hold of mom and she
reminded me of the words I said the night before I left for The World Race, “I just don’t want anything to happen to gma
and papaw while I am gone.” Then it hit me, what if God had other plans.
What if he wanted you to come home to him? The thought of you leaving before I
could say goodbye broke my heart. I told
mom to tell you that I love you. It was so important to me that you heard
that I loved you.
I left Nicaragua
and my heart was hurting so bad. For the unknown of how you were doing and what
was going to happen to you. For two days in Costa Rica I was mainly in bed
crying. I went to NYC for a 19+ hour layover and most of the time my mind &
heart was thinking about you. I even went shopping in NYC which I know you
would have done. I debated for so long
whether or not I would come home to say goodbye to you, but Penny and mom told
me that you would want me to stay on the missions’ field.
I made it to Poland
and I felt like I was in a different world. Seconds before I boarded the plane
to Romania, I checked my Facebook account and saw a post from Courtney. I soon
realized you had passed on to see Jesus. There were no words that I could say,
but I knew the Lord was giving me peace. I knew it had to be His timing to see
you because you were in so much pain that you could hardly bare.
After conversations
with mom and Penny I found out about your fight to get papaw to accept Jesus.
Your last breaths were taken for him to come to know the Lord. You said, “John just do it, just do it.” Everyone
knew what you were talking about, that you were telling him to accept Jesus as
his Savior. Gma your influence on the
family to come to know the Lord has been so BIG. The way you loved and shared about Jesus’ love, even in your last
breaths speaks mountains to the family.
Jesus gained a beautiful angel in Heaven that day. He
gained a prayer warrior, a lover, a Proverbs 31 woman, a fighter, a mother, a
woman of God, a devout Browns fan, a lover of all things sweet, a shopaholic, a
talker, a princess, and most importantly the best gma ever. Heaven is a more
beautiful place with you there.
Now I sit here in
Bulgaria weeping as I type this to you. Knowing that all of your pain is gone.
Knowing that you had lived a beautiful life. Knowing that you loved well.
Knowing your body has been restored to wholeness. Knowing that you are dancing
in Heaven with Jesus. It brings me great joy. Great joy to know of the
assurance we have of where you are.
Every day that I am on the missions’ field, it will
forever and always be dedicated to you and your love for the Lord.
Life well lived,
gma.
“Many women do noble things, buy you surpass them all.
Charm is deceptive, and beauty if fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is
to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her
praise at the city gate.” Proverbs
31: 29-31
