Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant, 1918-2013

Grandma with her great-granddaughter and namesake

Last week, we laid my grandmother to rest.  She was my last living grandparent, and she would have been 95 this Thursday.  Her lovely Christian life was darkened at the end by Alzheimer's, and she has not known us for 6 years.  This is her with my boys the last time she knew who they were.  I'm glad she had a chance to meet the baby.

The oldest is 14 now, and he was a pall bearer for the funeral, along with my first cousin who is the same age as he, two of my adult cousins, my husband, and my uncle.  I do not know if my son will know how much that meant to me until he is my age and watching children of his own grow up.  As I looked at the two 14-year-olds standing between the men and carrying her to her final resting place, I thought how proud she would be if she knew them now.  Perhaps she is able to get a glimpse of this world now and see them serving her right until the end.  Two fine boys who are growing up in the way that she taught her own children.  She was the last of her siblings and most of her friends of her own generation.  Now she joins my grandfather and the loved ones who have gone before her on the other side, but the younger generation is rising up to carry on.  Some people say our teenagers are the world/country/church of tomorrow.  But I say they are the world of today.  They are our country today.  They are the church of today.  Rest in peace, Grandma.  You've done your job.  You've raised your children well.  We will continue to raise the next generation well.  They are our hope.

Well done, good and faithful servant.

And when I come to die, give me Jesus.

And when I come to die, give me Jesus.

And when I come to die, give me Jesus.

You can have all this world, give me Jesus.

A League of Extraordinary Women

In researching my family history, I have realized that I come from a tradition of strong women.

My great-grandmother and my grandmother

Women who were known for their generosity and for their strength.  Women who had healthy marriages, but who were also independent.  Women who knew that it is more important to invest in the marriage than to invest in the wedding.

My grandmother and grandfather

Women who exhibited the love of Christ, who took care of their own families, and who took care of others.  Women who sacrificed their own pleasures for others.

My mother and me

Women who had fun, creativity, and talent.

My mother-in-law

We leave to my daughters a great heritage.

Four Generations: My grandmother, my mother, me, and my children

And women who, when they are gone, will enter Grace and wait for us patiently on the Other Side.  We will see them again.

A TIME OF SORROW

Here now, I lay me down to rest

God has my soul, my life was blest

A time to mourn and a time to weep

Oh take me Lord into thy keep

In this time of mourning and deep grief

we pray your sorrow be but brief

Look up to Heaven for your strength

we know his love goes any length

Even though she's here no more

picture her at Heaven's Door

as to dust she returns to Earth

it signifies her Eternal Birth

She's standing in the arms of Grace

and looking at God's holy face

Our bodies here must pass away

her job now?  Sing Praise!! all day

Those earthy ails are here no more

she's dancing on the Golden Shore

Let her dance in your mind's eye

see her happy; don't wonder why

Memories might make you sad

remember the life she had

while you're in the midst of grief

let God's Spirit bring relief

One day you'll say, I'm doing just fine

"Beauty from Ashes" can take some time

Let this hope keep tears at bay:

Together we will be some day!

Jamie Franck Turner

© March 2012