They Asked Me To Share

You may have read my last blog...this is similar...but I rewrote it to share at Grandmomma's funeral service.

Years ago my family started the tradition of taking hubby's grandmother, Grandmomma, out to a local "fish camp" for a catfish dinner on Mother's Day. 

As years have gone by our party has grown to include aunts, uncles, and cousins etc. 

As more years have gone by Grandmomma doesn't like to leave her house...so we bring the catfish dinner to her.

It is a lovely time on the river sharing stories and spending time as family.

However, this year, Grandmomma, seemed less herself. Frail. Almost like this "brood" was an intrusion...not that she wasn't thankful...she is much too southern for that.  It is just that it seemed like a bit much.  Maybe she was just tired.

Later in the day as things winded down...and many had left...she was coming to sit back down; kind of having a hard time. As she sat she smiled and said "one day when you are 86 years have gone by you'll understand..." 


I looked at her, admiring this sweet woman. It was quiet. Just us. I said

"Grandmomma what is the most amazing 

thing you have seen in your 86 years?"

She looked up, pondering, and said  ..."well... I don't know."  She thought a bit and then

"I guess it would have to be electricity after the Great Depression."

ELECTRICITY... I thought...something I completely take for granted is the most amazing thing she has seen in her 86 years.  

After hearing the electricity story...I was humbled to sit in the presence of a woman I admired so much. 

I asked her: "Grandmomma would you recite some scripture for me?"  See...she had a gift for the scripture.  She could recite entire books of scripture...

She then proceeded to quote her favorite, the entire 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians beginning:

 ¹Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
 ²And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

I wish I had time to recite the entire chapter. I wish I could recite it as beautifully and effortlessly as Grandmomma once did.  I wish it flowed off my tongue with that sweet, southern softness of Joyce Compton. 

 ¹³And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. (1 Corinthians 13, King James Version)

This weekend I found, marked in my bible, another passage Grandmomma recited to me that day.  It brought tears to my eyes to read it in light of her passing.  When i read the words of Jesus-making His promise to us-I now imagine Grandmomma standing there beside Him confirming it's truth...John 14

 ¹Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
 ²In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
 ³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:1-3, King James Version)

This inspires me so much,  When her sight failed her, the scripture in her heart did not, Though she may not have known what day of the week it was, she knew what her Lord and Savior said.  

I think if I were to ask Grandmomma today what the most amazing thing she has seen in her 87 years...she'd have a different answer. 

Just as I realized how I took electricity for granted, I want to make sure to be found-not taking for granted the most amazing thing Grandmomma has ever seen and experienced: JESUS CHRIST and His Word.