So last month I lost a very special lady in my life, my grandmother. Honestly it was one of my hardest moments on the race so far. Losing her was hard, and not being with my family during this time was even harder. And since I couldn’t be at the funeral I want to share with y’all what I would have wanted to share there…
There is something so sweet and special about being able to visit your grandma’s house. My grandparents lived 10 hours away from me growing up but every year we would go and visit them and I always remember being so excited! Visiting them meant amazing treats, adventures with Grandpa, and getting to play at all hours of the day. My grandma made the BEST rhubarb pie and rice crispy treats with butterscotch chips in them! So, so good! She absolutely loved being in the kitchen and especially loved baking… And I, of course, loved eating all of it!
Looking back at my grandmas life and reflecting on the beauty of it, what I’ll remember most about her isn’t any of these things. In fact I wouldn’t even say that is where my relationship with my Grandma really truly began. For me, my true meaningful relationship began with her when I fully gave my life to The Lord. After that I began to notice this presence about her that I had never noticed before. Each time I would visit her I would feel this overwhelming peace and joy that rested over her. It was something truly humbling to see. In her later days, her memory started to fail her and most of the time I honestly don’t know if she recognized me at all. But what was so amazing to me, is in that time her peace and joy always remained. She knew that she was supposed to know us and that’s all that mattered to her. She always greeted us with the biggest smile and kiss on the cheek, that would make my day each time. I could sit with her for hours and not ever say a word because just sitting with her brought so much joy to my heart. The Holy Spirit was so alive and present in her that when I saw her I always saw Him. And that is what I will remember about her the most. Her love for Christ was so genuine and pure. Her faith and love for Him never wavered even in her final days here. That is the memory I will carry with me forever, and one day when I’m old and gray I hope that my children and grandchildren will be able to see that faith through me… Because more than anything in this life, I want people to see Him when they look at me… Just like I did in my grandmother. <3
