Her last words to me before I left were trimmed with happy tears, as she told me that she prays for me everyday and would be on her knees for me this year! As this beautiful woman celebrates her 93rd birthday, I want to honor her life. My grandma was raised in a sad and less than ideal family situation. She walked through many hardships in her early life yet God captured her and has worked His own story through her life. She was married at eighteen to my Grandpa and they were married for over 65 years before he went to live with Jesus in 2006.
Specifically over the past eight years I have had the privilege of spending time talking, visiting, eating and just enjoying being in the company of my Grandma. Because my other Grandma past away before I was born, she has been my only grandma. She is a good one. The relationship we have built is priceless. Everytime we visit, she shares how she faithfully prays for me daily and for my future husband. The way she prayerfully invests in my life is such a testimony and encouragement. I am blessed.
As I was thinking about writing this blog and honoring her, I thought about how we are connected by Grace. My middle name, Grace, was chosen after her middle name. But it isn’t only the name, it’s the meaning. This month we are living in hostels and many hostels have books that people bring and trade for another. Future Grace, by John Piper just happened to be on the shelf at the place we are currently staying. I started that book many years ago, but never finished it. I was so excited because I have been wanting to understand more of the concept of “grace” and how to not only walk in it but how to give it. As all this has been happening, I was musing about my Grandma and her life and saw “GRACE” written all over it. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 says
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Although my Grandma has had many sorrows and challenges in her past, this verse reminded me of how the Spirit of Christ has rested upon her, which is grace. Her life, my life and your life – they are all defined in grace. We are not just defined, but also wrapped in grace. My Grandma, Muriel Grace Jager, is a beautiful woman who is defined and lives out the grace of Jesus. Grandma, I love you. I love that you so fervently pray for your family and the people you live with. I love that we share the same name. But most of all, I love that we share the same grace of Jesus that covers our lives.
