I'll never forget their example
As a side note: We will be leaving early tomorrow morning to travel out of town for the memorial service so I won't be hosting Frugal Fridays this week (though I could really use your thoughts on this post). Lord-willing, I'll be back on Monday.
A Tribute to My Grandparents
Very few people are privileged to get to meet their great-grandparents. I was blessed to not only get to meet my great-grandparents but to also get to spend a lot of time with them during my childhood. I have many special memories - spending the night at their home, baking in the kitchen with Grandmother, sharing meals and kitchen clean-up together, and sitting around listening to them tell fascinating stories about their life in the early to mid-1900's. At the end of every visit with them, we would take a moment to stand in a circle, hold hands and pray - with Grandfather leading the prayer and Grandmother ending with, "And may God grant you every good thing you can contain and still be His."
When they found out I was hoping to learn how to play the violin and was saving to buy one, I got an envelope in the mail with a check for $10 and a note which read, "This is for your violin savings account." Just a few months later, I was able to begin violin lessons. Today I look back with so much gratefulness for their investment in my musical education. Thanks to that initial $10 and much encouragement on their part, I have had years of enjoyment from the violin - playing in orchestras, string quartets, and ensembles, and teaching a number of students who have gone on to become highly accomplished musicians.
I learned so much from Grandfather and Grandmother by observing their marriage and love for each other, their love for the Lord, and their love for family and friends. It is hard for me to separate the two of them in my mind - even though they were so different from each other - because they were such a team. I guess being married for 70 years is a testament to just how close they were! After Grandfather's sudden death, Grandmother couldn't help but talk almost constantly of Grandfather. How happy I was last Sunday to think of her finally going home to be with Jesus and to be once again reunited with Grandfather!
I'll never forget their example.
posted by Crystal Paine at 4:04 PM
20 Comments:
Dear Crystal,
Your touching post brought tears to my eyes. Such a fortune it is to have a Godly heritage.I'm so sorry for your loss. May you meet again in heaven.
Years ago, I remember going to my husband's grandmother's funeral and the main thing everyone remembered about her was that she was a woman that loved the Lord, and her family and endeavored to take good care of them all. I've always thought that to be remembered in that way is the highest honor.
Blessings,
Trixie
I am sorry, Crystal! I too had some wonderful great-grandparents that I miss very badly!
What a wonderful tribute you have written!
You really bless us everytime you share something on your rich heritage of faith.
Claire
That's beautiful. What wonderful memories you have. They sound like wonderful people.
I'm sorry for your loss. May God be with you and your family this weekend and as you grieve.
What a tremendous blessing to have Christian parents, grandparents and great-grandparents who led their families in the paths of righteousness!
My husband and I come from broken families where Christians are the definate minority. Strife, division, addiction, impurity and selfishness have caused deep wounds in many of our relatives.
My husband and I want to make a fresh start. We pray that we can raise our children for the Lord and someday be the grandparents and great-grandparents that left a loving, godly legacy for their families!
Thank you so much for posting this Crystal - it is inspiring to us to see how God blesses faithfulness!
What a lovely tribute!!
How neat to have had your great grandmother for as long as you had.I find this hard to comprhend because I lost my mom at 5,all grandparents were gone by the time I was born and even my dad never got to see our children.
I was blessed to know four of my great-grandparents, and just lost my last great grandfather in December. It's sad to think about that generation of my family now being gone, but my memories of them will always be ones of gratefulness.
One set (both died in the early 2000s) were married for 71 years and were such a wonderful example to all of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren!
Your tribute to your own loved ones is just beautiful!
Crystal,
That is a wonderful tribute to your grandmother!! What a wonderful blessing to have a Godly heritage in your family! I'm sure your whole family will be blessed, encouraged and comforted by your words.
I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. Your eulogy is lovely. I'm sure your family will be blessed to hear such loving memories.
I'm so sorry for your loss. They sounded like wonderful people. And your tribute was just lovely....I was touched.
I was blessed to know and spend time with my Great-Grandparents too. (o:
Crystal,
I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your grandmother. It's such a comfort to Christians to KNOW we'll see them again, and to have the hope that we have of heaven!
I was blessed to have known two of my great-grandmothers, and to be very close to one of them. She passed on the gift of music to her twelve children (some play instruments, and some just enjoy listening), and the theme of her funeral was "Will the Circle Be Unbroken." The overlapping generations still have regular "get-togethers" to play and sing together, all because of a blind Scottish imigrant who loved her family with all she had.
God bless!
Kim
What a lovely post. I'm sorry for your loss, but your (and your family's) grace is so inspiring.
Marianne
Oh, you are blessed to have such an example! They sound like a very sweet couple. I hope we get to 70 years, Lord willing! What a testimony that is!
What a lovely tribute. My Grandmother was the same age as she died five years ago at age 95. And when you described your grandparents it reminded me of her. It's bittersweet letting go...knowing they go to the Lord, but we miss their wonderful presence here! May his peace be with you as you and your family grieve.
Dear Crystal,
Thank you for sharing this post with me and everyone... I am so sorry for your loss but we will pray for you and your family. I lost my grandmother a few years ago and I was so saddened by the fact that she died suddenly without my saying good-bye to her. I think of her all the time! Blessings, to you and your family.
Crystal, I've got tears in my eyes too... thank you for writing that beautiful tribute to your grandparents. I feel the exact same way about my precious Grandpa Bob and Grammy Ethel. They are my hero's in faith, life, their marriage, as parents, grand-parents, and great-grandparents. They have left me with such a godly example to follow and I pray my grandchildren feel the same way about me someday.
I will be praying for your family as I know you will miss your Grandmother very much here on earth - but you will be reunited gloriously in heaven someday! And, I know she is very proud of you Crystal. Keep shining for Jesus!
I'm so sorry for your family's loss, Crystal.That was a beautiful tribute you wrote. Your Grandmother's prayer of "And may God grant you every good thing you can contain and still be His." gave me a wonderful thrill, what a beautiful way to put that! She sounded like such a special lady. What sweet memories for you to have.
What a lovely tribute to your grandparents. I am so sorry for your loss, but grateful to God that you had such a long time with such Godly people who could so positively impact your life.
There is sadness yet wonderful hope when dear hearts are separated by sleep in Christ(passing from this life to be present with the Lord). A lovely memorial of what God has done, Crystal. {{{hugs}}}
What a beautiful post. Blessing to you and your family.
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