“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."
~ Matthew 5:4
Holidays are tough when there’s an
empty chair … and even emptier hearts. This
will be my first Thanksgiving without my Grandma; she died just weeks before my
high school graduation.
It's never about the turkey for me, or the stuffing, or even
the fresh-baked pies. Don't get me
wrong, I love all that stuff; Thanksgiving wouldn't be the same without it. But a day that's all about thanking God for what
we have (each other, our health and the food we eat), that’s magic!
Grandma's entire family grew up on a small farm in Iowa. None of her 13 siblings (including her) were
able to attend college, yet she lived a blessed life because “as long as you
never stop learning, you’ll never stop growing."
I’ll not forget the gentle way she used to carry me when I
wasn’t yet able to walk; the whiff of warm sugar cookies perfectly timed for my
arrival; endless games of Old Maid played with time-worn cards; the sweet taste
of her homemade strawberry preserves on buttered toast.
She always sat closest to the kitchen for Thanksgiving
dinner, but only after every dish was carefully placed on the table. This year, Mom rearranged where everyone sat hoping
to make her absence less noticeable. The
prayer wasn’t even sad, but we all cried anyway.
If only I had one more day with Grandma, I’d start by
thanking her for being born. She started
this crazy family and her legacy lives on.
I’d thank her for her ‘mastery’ in the kitchen. We spent some memorable times together
there. Her cooking was the best.
I’d thank her for the examples she set. The love she and Grandpa shared provided the
perfect model of how a marriage should work. The love she had for her three boys set a prime
example of how to be a great Mom. And
finally, the love that she had for her grandkids showed us all why loving
someone is so important.
If you're fortunate enough to have your grandmother in your
life, you’re one of the lucky ones. I've
never in my life met a woman as special as mine. I'm not sure if it's the way she gracefully
handled any situation, or if it was her ability to love every family member regardless
of their failings. But there's something
about that woman that makes me strive to be just like her.
Father, fill the empty space in our hearts and
at our table. Teach us to savor the
moments we have with one another, to rightly remember what we’ve lost, but also
to look forward in hope to what You’ve promised for the future. Amen
