Today is the day that I have long anticipated. Today, December 30, 2012, my Grandma
AnnaBelle Griswold’s faith became sight.
I am reminded, as I contemplate her life, of her faith. Her faith was strong in the worst of times,
and in the best of times. She loved her
church—the relationships with God’s people and the preaching she loved to hear
each week. I can remember in the early
1970’s when she got her first “Living Bible,” for when she would read it, she
would relate that “it made the whole Old Testament seem like reading a lovely
story book!”—I can actually still here those words in her voice.
Grandma was the one person in the world that I always knew
loved me. There was never a doubt, for
we had a bond that transcended miles and time.
We always spoke quite frankly to each other—I truly could ask her
anything and she would give me an honest and from the heart answer. I have described her many times in other posts;
however, I cannot do justice to her memory here, for it isn’t formal reporting,
so much as me randomly writing memories down.
Mostly what I would like to say today is that because I love
her so very much, there will now be a time of grief. The thing is, up until we lost Macy Jo, I could
not picture my life without grandma’s influence. When
Macy’s accident happened Grandma & Grandpa came and spent the bigger part
of a month with my family and me. During those first days without Macy, I came
to a realization that I could still breathe in and out without her. As I reasoned
and thought through all of those emotions, I reasoned that at some point,
others whom mean so very much to me will one day die…
I came to a conclusion, since I was still breathing without our
little daughter, that God would not allow anyone to be taken from this earthly
life through death that I could not ‘live without’… even though the living
looks different, or painful for a time—but not impossible—for the joy of the
Lord is my strength, (Nehemiah 8:10) and “I lift my eyes to the hills, from
where does my help come—My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and
Earth!” (Psalm 121)
I wrote many journals and little essays during the darkest
days following Macy’s accident. A couple
of years later, as my grandpa’s health declined, I began a grief journal
because I knew it wouldn’t be long before ‘Grand-dad went away’—Grandma’s words
the day she called to tell me that he had passed. Today it was the voice of my sweet aunt
calling to tell me of Grandma’s death this morning.
I praise God for her life, for blessing her so richly while
she was here, for the example of her life, wisdom and faith that she so easily
shared with me throughout my entire life.
She had recently celebrated her ninetieth birthday—a good, long
life. Her love for her family was always
evident—for her brothers, sisters, their spouses and children, her own children
and grandchildren—she always liked ‘having her bunch around her’—that love she
had for her family was inspiring. The
love she and my grandpa shared as a married couple was also inspiring. They were married for a little over
sixty-eight years—truly a sweet love story.
And so for today, I am sad that this day has come, but I know
where Grandma is—and I praise God for that assurance! I love considering the HUGE family reunion she
is enjoying tonight in Heaven—sing with me:
I Can Only Imagine!
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