LOIS, EUNICE AND LELA

Lela was my…Grandmother!

Everyone deserves to have a grandmother like mine! It was not that she took me to Disneyland every day, or took me shopping whenever we were together, or took me on extravagant vacations, or bought me anything and everything my heart desired.

IT WAS SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT!

She gave me what money can’t buy…THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST-LIKE LIVING!  

She spent as much time with me as she physically could. She lived in Arizona and I lived in Northern California. She visited every Christmas and brought me to her house each Summer. I grew up going to Summer Bible Camp and Vacation Bible School at her house each year. I sat beside her as she taught Sunday School with a flannel graph board and poster sized pictures of all the Bible heroes. I stood on a stool next to her as she taught me to bake cookies and cakes. I propped myself up on a dining room chair and watched her make breakfast, lunch and dinner. I attended church with her on Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday night, when I was with her. I helped prepare the jello salad or dessert we placed into the Tupperware dish with her last name printed on the bottom, written over scotch tape, SWITTER!

I went to the grocery store with her as she greeted every worker from the outside to the inside and they greeted her back. I drove to the post office with her as she walked each letter to be mailed inside. Every employee greeted her by name. She brightened the whole place with her smile! I accompanied her to her Women’s Bible Study and listened as she read from her Bible. I walked into the drug store around the corner with her as person after person yelled out her name. I sat close by as she and my grandfather would finish dinner on Saturday night, clean up the dishes and then fill out their offering envelope and place their giving check inside. I witnessed her dress beautifully for church and wear her black patent leather high heels from September through March, and her white patent leather high heels from April through August. I listened as she answered phone calls and spoke words of encouragement and prayers of blessing over the caller. I watched as she served ‘Meals on Wheels’ to shut-ins, and followed her into nursing homes as she visited those inside. I ate the dozens of Christmas cookies she baked and brought to her family each Christmas. I opened the presents she wrapped in festive wrapping paper and wore the dresses she made me each and every year. 

She led me in prayers, taught me to read, and trust the word of God, told me to shine my light for Jesus and know that I was beautiful because He created me!

My grandmother, by the life she lived, gave me the most valuable gift available on this earth,

to live my life every single day that I have breath, for JESUS!

She taught me life giving lessons when she told me to begin each and every day saying,

“This is the day The Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.“  Psalm 118:24

She would also tell me,

“Always forgive, even if the person is not deserving, because Jesus forgave you!”

She loved bigger than any person I have ever known, because she loved JESUS first and others next!

No book, sermon or lecture has taught me half as much as the life my grandmother lived has taught me. She did not tell me how to love Jesus, she showed me how to love Jesus!

To this day, she was my angel on earth, who now is my angel in heaven who waits for me.

I live my life for Jesus because she showed me how!

In the Bible we read about a young man who began his ministry early at the young age of 18 because of the godly influence of his mother and grandmother.

Timothy was filled with the same strong faith as his grandmother, Lois, and his mother, Eunice.

“I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother, Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.”                                                          2 Timothy 1:5

Women, Mothers, Grandmothers, Aunts, Cousins, Friends…we have a life-altering opportunity to set a Christ-like example for all those around us to follow.

As Mother’s Day approaches, their is no greater legacy that we can celebrate or set, than a legacy of following Jesus and loving His people!

My grandmother set the greatest example of all for me at her funeral.

I did not want to go to the funeral home because I wanted to keep my memories of her “alive and vibrant.” But God knew I needed to be at that funeral home.

I sat outside the viewing area in the lobby.  I was alone, and I watched the postman come in and walk into the viewing room, followed by the drugstore worker, and the lad at the grocery store. The streams and streams of children poured in that she taught in Sunday school and countless others from her community. She had touched all of their lives and they wanted to pay her respect!

Truth was, she had shown them JESUS, and their lives were impacted!

Lela, Lois and Eunice lived their lives full of Faith pointing other’s to Jesus. We can do the same!

On this Mother’s Day as we honor special women in our lives, LET’S HONOR THEM WELL, THANK THEM FOR THE IMPACT THEY HAVE MADE ON US AND OTHERS and challenge ourselves to be the women who will impact the next Lisa or Timothy!

TRUTH BOMB

Grandmothers leave a legacy their grandchildren never outgrow!

Happy Mother’s Day to you friend, whether you are one biologically or have been a Mother to ones who have needed you! We honor and celebrate you, and the Mothers who have gone before us!

Speak Truth Love