Grounded in Grace

Have you ever had that one food that you just love? My grandmas sweet pickles would easily sit on the top of my list.  Lance and I were going through some my old recipe books earlier this week trying to find something “different” to make for dinner.  Lance pulled out a sheet of paper with a bunch of chicken scratch on it.  There was no title on it, just a bunch of writing.  To my amazement it was the recipe for my favorite sweet pickles that Grandma used to make. I am not sure how her recipe ended up in my recipe box but I am certainly blessed it was there.  I immediately snapped a picture of it and texted it to my mom who of course texted  right back and told me she was about to cry. It may be just a pickle recipe to many but to me it’s a very special part of my grandma.   She passed away 8 months ago today, January 10th, 2015.  I was honored with the opportunity to speak the eulogy  at her funeral, so for todays blog I thought I would share some of the words I was able to speak about a woman who meant the world to me.

Grandma was the most determined, strong willed person I have ever known.  She loved her life  and ESPECIALLY her family more than anything in this world.  It is from her that we as a family learned to stay strong.  We  learned to persevere through tragedy, heartache and loss and continue living each day to the fullest.

My grandmother played many roles throughout her life.  She was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend.  She loved and cared for each one of us in her own special way.  No matter what trouble arose, at the end of the day she always had a huge heart that was made of steel and overflowed with love.

I have so many great memories of her.  I could write for hours and share stories that would make you laugh until you cried.  Some of the fondest memories I have were hearing her talk about her “little red Buick” although there was NOTHING little about a 1976 Buick Lesabre!  She loved that car more than anything and still talked about it even in her final days.  I also have fond memories of Sunday dinners at her house, playing horse shoes in the backyard, Christmas Eve and Easter celebrations that she longed for each year.  I remember riding the school bus to her house in the afternoon and having a huge salad awaiting me (complete with her homemade sweet pickles) and how ALL my life she would tell everyone she’d meet how I would lick the plate clean.  I remember the days when my mom and I lived with her when I was in my early 20’s and we were better known as “The Golden Girls”.  We could not go anywhere without making a scene and laughing about it for days.

My grandma had such a determination to live.  She proved that until her last breath.  A couple months before she passed away, she told us that my granddaddy had been to visit her (he passed away in 1982).  She was telling us that he told her he was ready for her to come be with him and how much she was going to like it where he was.  As we were sitting there thinking that was the sweetest thing we had ever heard, she proceeded to tell us she told him to hush his mouth…she wasn’t going anywhere!  I’m quite certain on January 10th my grandaddy had a big ole smile on his face when she finally gave in. On that day he and Jesus were standing side by side waiting to greet her with open arms.

Although my grandma is missed terribly, I could never be so selfish to want her back.  She is in a place where HE has wiped away every tear, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:4

I am so thankful that for 45 years of my life I was blessed with such wonderful favor of having my grandma. Finding this recipe may be a slight expression of peace but I believe HE is constantly sending small bits of HIS love to comfort us even if it comes in the form of a sweet pickle.  “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4

In conclusion, cherish every moment of every day with the ones you love.  You never know when it will be their last.

A HEART OF STEEL STOPPED BEATING, 2 SHINNING EYES AT REST. GOD BROKE OUR HEARTS TO PROVE , HE ONLY TAKES THE BEST.    ~author unknown