Lessons from my Grandmother
The Lady
My Grandmother lived a long and relatively healthy life. She passed in her Mid 90's just 2 short years ago or so and when I think back on her life, one word comes to mind: Faith.
For as long as I can remember, she was a faithful christian. She believed completely and deeply in her christian walk. She regularly read the Bible and practiced what she was reading and believing. She instilled in me that it was important to believe in something that perhaps you couldn't explain clearly. Something that perhaps others wouldn't believe, but that we should love each other regardless.
Her Death
When she passed away, everyone was sitting around with the pastor to work through what would be in her last service at the funeral. Everyone had great stories about her history, things she did, her 60+ years of marriage to the same man who passed before her. However, no one thought to look in her Bible. It came to me while we were sitting there so I suggested it.
Inside her bible were several handwritten and/or physically cut out and pasted things she had placed. I was so struck by it, that I took pictures of them to save. I share those with you now:
The Legacy
We often hear folks discuss the legacy they want to leave behind. Whether it be money, property, businesses, etc. What my Grandmother taught me was it was ok to have faith. To believe in things that perhaps you couldn't explain. To believe in things that perhaps many others didn't. She exampled how to love deeply. How to exercise discipline in her life, in her faith walk, and how to truly leave a legacy.
Her legacy was love and what she left behind were tidbits in the front of her Bible that I will cherish forever. She lived what Christians often reference in the Bible:
"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ - Matthew 22:36-40
Now I'm not here to preach to you today about Christianity or any religion for that matter. Simply that in life, there are some real things that make a difference.
The most important of those, to me, is love. Love one another. But more importantly, if you read that last section it says "as yourself". You see, you can't really love someone else, until you love yourself. Just be OK with you and cut yourself a break. I think you deserve it.
Much love,
Captain Bob
Your grandmother must have been living in a very healthy lifestyle in both physical and spiritual aspect. I agree with the idea you mentioned "that in life, there are some real things that make a difference" :)
Indeed she did @jerome-morales. Are there lessons you've learned that "make a difference"? I'm always looking to learn :)
Yes I do, one lesson/thing I learned from a book is practicing for being able to be comfortable with your own imperfection, strive hard to what what is right for you, but don't expect wonderful results, as it is normal in life that everything will not turn out based on what you want it to be. This way you will live happier. I think this will make a difference on how we live life to its fullest. :)
Great stuff. Thank you for sharing.