I sat across from her with my eyes lovingly gazed on her sweet face. She had seemed to age a lifetime in the few short months since I saw her last. Her face resembled more of my great-grandmother than my grandma. I knew this visit would most likely be the last one I would have with her on this earth. It was sweet. Her tired eyes sparkled like her eyes always did. Her words were few, but filled with warmth.
As I said goodbye, I told her we would be returning to Tennessee in the morning and I would not be seeing her for awhile. (Sadly, Illinois is quite a ways from Tennessee.) Only by the grace of God was I able to contain the tears that earnestly wanted to break free. I hugged her many times, kissed her sweet face many times and told her I loved her. I knew the next time we met would be in her Heavenly Home.
This is a picture of me with her during our last visit.
A week ago today, my sweet Grandmother went home to be with the Lord. It had been only two weeks since that last visit. I am so thankful the Lord gave me one last visit with her here on this earth.
The funeral was earlier this week. It was beautiful. Grandma looked beautiful as she always did. She was 90 years old, almost 91 and had lived a wonderful and full life. She was a special lady. She loved people. She loved me.
I can still see that sparkle in her eye, the window to the light that was in her spirit and soul. The light of Jesus radiated through her to all who knew her.
She was a prayer warrior. She ended every phone conversation I had with her with "I pray for you everyday." I knew she did.
She left all of us something more valuable and priceless than anything this world could offer. She left for us a legacy of faith and a legacy of love. It is my hope and prayer to carry on this legacy. It is my hope to honor the legacy grandma left, to be that light to those around me and to the generations behind me. It is my aim and high calling to be a prayer warrior, and to help fill in the gap that is left by her absence.
2 Corinthians 5:8 says To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.
I know where my Grandma is and I can picture her dancing with Jesus. I can picture her leaving this earth and entering the Throne Room of the Most High God and kneeling before the Throne of Grace (kneeling was something she wasn't able to do during these last years on earth). Her body....completely healed and whole. New. No more pain. No more suffering.
I can hear the Lord saying "Well done good and faithful servant."
Grandma, we will miss you. I miss you.
I know you are having a party on the streets of gold and someday I will dance with you there. We will get our boogie down up there!
Until we meet again, I love you. Thank you for the prayers. Thank you for your love. Thank you for never giving up on me. Thank you for sowing into my life. Thank you for the legacy of faith you left for us.
To see the other post about Grandma see 90 and Beautiful written in her honor.
Your grandmother would be VERY, VERY proud of the woman that you have become. We've been blessed in the Pullen/Ware family to have not one, but SEVERAL wonderful examples from the matriarchs and patriarchs, married for over 60 years and serving the Lord! May the next generation follow their example ...and say the same of us when we are gone.
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