Grandma Minnie

This week we attended the funeral for Cal's 98-year-old Grandma Minnie.   

I didn't expect to cry....

We were ready for this day.  She had lived a long life, and during the last 15 years of her life she had severe memory loss.  She didn't really know anyone anymore.  It was a day to rejoice. A day to celebrate the life she lived.  There is joy in knowing she is now in heaven where her body and MIND have been restored.   

But I did...I cried.  How silly of me to think I wouldn't.  I cried out of appreciation for the legacy of faith she left behind.  MANY of her family were there.   While a number of her family members have proceeded her in death, she left behind a small village -- 4 children (1 proceeded her), 19 grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren. (Who hears of that anymore?  Great-great grandchildren?)  Her daughter spoke of her mother's faith, her grand-daughter spoke of her grandma's faith, and her great-granddaughter sang praises to our Jesus.  The pastor recalled how on his visits with Minnie they would always conclude with the Lord's Prayer or Psalm 23 or the Apostles Creed.  And while she didn't remember much, those words always came back.  I pray that those promises are as deeply rooted in my heart and mind and that they are passed onto my children and eventual grandchildren.

As we stood around her gravesite -- I was struck by how ALL of our many lives exist as they do today because of her...one person.  And we all know Jesus.  I pictured her smiling at us all with her twinkling eyes.  How proud she would be to see us all gathered.  Thank you Grandma Minnie for the heritage you left for us.  Thank you God!

(While this is all very sentimental, I must also confess a typical "Jen Moment" at the cemetary.  We parked quite away back from the grave site and had to walk through the grass to get there.  I am, of course, wearing spiky open toed heals and so I am watching the ground very carefully so as not to trip or sink my heals into the earth. All of a sudden, a snake slithers right in front of my toes and I naturally yell out "Snake!".  I look up and everyone is looking at me -- I'm literally 5 feet from the tented area.  I had no idea I was that close or that loud.  Nice!)