As promised, January has been full of reminiscing posts – some that have pulled at your heartstrings and others that have made you LOL! Today’s post pays tribute to some dear ones who left a legacy of love and faith with me but now reside in Heaven. Enjoy this last look back in 2016.
Growing up I spent many weekends at my Grandma’s house, and I loved being there. (Well, actually my great-grandmother, uncle, aunt and Grandma all lived together in an old white house with dark green shutters on a hill in tiny Clifton, S.C.) I was … ok I’ll say it … not spoiled, but really loved a lot!
I won’t lie; it was wonderful having all that attention. I remember sitting with my great-grandmother (Ma-Ma) and talking, rocking in her chair while she held me in her lap. She had the most beautiful olive skin (not a wrinkle), and she absolutely had to have her “earbobs” on when she went to town. I’m not kidding about that. If she ever forgot her “earbobs,” someone would be sent into the drugstore to purchase a pair that could get her by for the trip. She refused to go in with naked ears!
My aunt Winifred (Wint) and I would paint our nails or bake together. And if I remember correctly, she taught me how to set a proper table. She also taught me the beauty of serving others. I cannot even begin to count the number of Japanese Fruit Pies she made for neighbors and church friends.
My uncle Don and I would spend hours playing the piano and singing. Uncle Don taught me the joy that comes from making music unto the Lord. He always took time with me and made me feel extra special.
My grandma and I would go shopping together, talk, laugh like crazy and play cards (I was playing rummy at the age of four, I’m fairly certain, and winning!). I loved being with her growing up. I remember one year, at the Spartanburg Christmas Parade, I saw a royal blue sweater with a polar bear on it. I wanted that sweater so badly and on Christmas morning, that sweater showed up under the tree just for me! I also remember helping her roll her hair every Saturday night in tiny pen curls with Dippity Do. Yes, we had some unforgettable moments that I will forever cherish.
I have so many wonderful memories from my times at Grandma’s house. But I can tell you without a doubt that one of the most vivid memories I have − a memory that is forever burned into my heart and mind − is the memory of listening to my Grandmother pray every night as I would drift off to sleep. Hearing her prayers so beautifully spoken caused me to want to pray like her, and looking back I realize that her example taught me how to pray.
My maternal grandmother loved the Lord with all her heart, and she was a woman of worship. I have vivid memories in my mind of seeing her at church worshiping the Lord with abandonment. She was in love with her Savior, and she didn’t care who knew it. She taught me to worship freely and not concern myself with how others viewed my outward worship and expression of love for Jesus. And now every time I worship the Lord, I think of her example and find freedom in expressing myself to the Lord without fear of what others might be thinking.
There’s another lady whose life enriched mine – my Aunt Frances. I always called her Popeye because she would sing “I’m Popeye the Sailor Man” to me when I was little. I can’t even tell you how many weeks I spent at her house in Columbia, SC. We cooked together, shopped together, relaxed in the hammock together, played games together, and sang a zillion songs together. She, along with my Uncle Buddy (her husband), were precious to me and provided me with may opportunities in my growing up years.
There are others, many others who have or still do enrich my life and fill me with joy. I’m ever so grateful that the Lord placed me in a godly family and built a godly heritage around me.
I know many of you reading this blog did not have the godly heritage that I had. You were not blessed with wonderful examples of God’s love and grace. But YOU, you have been given a chance to begin a godly heritage and influence those around you with the love and truth of God’s love. I’m praying for you as you seek to do just that. I’m praying that God has placed you where you are and given you influence over many so that you can encourage this generation and the next for His glory. Take courage. Do not be afraid. You can do this with the Lord’s help.
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. – 2 Timothy 3:14-17
Do you have a childhood story you’d like to share? Maybe you remember someone who taught you or influenced you. I’d love for you to share your story below in the comments section.
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