A Tribute to Grams

                                                          I have had the honor this week of celebrating my Grandma’s life as she went to be with Jesus last Saturday.  We have spent the week remembering, celebrating and laughing through so many memories. 

 

Last year as I prepared to leave she was probably the only family member who never uttered “I don’t want you to go”; she may have thought it a hundred times, but she never said it.  And that was just how she lived her life; she never put her desires or opinions over anyone else’s.  She was the kindest, sweetest and most supportive little lady I have ever known.  She was famous for her rocking.  She always had a rocking chair in the living room and some of my earliest memories of her are rocking back and forth watching all of our coming and going, and over my 29 years that never changed.  Grandma was always rocking as I came in and out of town, in and out of her daily life.  The last time I saw her before I left last year she was in her rocking chair and I leaned down to give her a kiss and with a tear on her cheek she smiled and said “Alli, I probably won’t be here when you get back next year.”  I chastised her quietly and said “of course you will be rocking here next year when I get back!” 

 

And by the grace of God she was.  When I walked back in the door this May, there she was rocking away and she quietly whispered “I was waiting for you.”  I can’t tell you the number of times this year the phone would ring, or the email would come saying that Grandma wasn’t doing well and I should be ready to come home.  And every time she would rally.   The number of times I would cry with my teammates about my Grandma and beg for their prayers.  I remember praying in the Philippines for just  4 more months, and I remember begging God in Guatemala for just 10 more days!   He was so faithful to give me those 10 days and 51 extra too!  We begged for a peaceful passing and He was so faithful in answering that as well.  How he answered those prayers and so many more this year!

 

I laugh now at the phone conversations I had with her all year where the connection was poor, or the delay was really long, or I was in some remote place in Africa trying to catch up on family news and she couldn’t hear a word I was saying.  My family would read blogs to her and she would tell all her visitors about the adventures of her world-traveling granddaughter!   Even to the end she was so interested in everyone around her and never failed to tell me how pretty I looked–even in running clothes!  Her faith was so important to her and I will never forget walking in one day and even though she had poor eyesight she had her Bible under her reading machine and was studying Pslams.  Just last week she had me read her church bulletin to her so she could stay up on all the news, even though she probably hadn’t been there in years.  She was an example to all of us and will be greatly missed!

 

I just know she is sitting in heaven rocking with Jesus–she just better be saving me a seat!