Legacy of Love

Legacy of Love

When I was asked to speak about my grandma today, a lot of different feelings came over me.  But as I processed it, I knew that it was an honor to be able to honor her.   So here I am.  My grandma was an amazing woman! She left so many amazing memories for us all, but she also left a legacy, a legacy of love.  She loved each and everyone of her grandchildren and great grandchildren so much. Even over the years as my sister and I babysat, she would love on those babies too. Then came along the Crain’s and I can honestly say, she loved those babies as they were her own grandchildren.

“Many women have done wonderful things,

    but you’ve outclassed them all!”

Proverbs 31:29

When I read this scripture, I knew that it described how I and many others felt about her.  My grandma was a quiet lady, she didnt always have alot to say. But Grandpa always seemed to talk enough for the both of them.  They complimented each other well that way.  My grandma endured many storms in her life, she suffered the loss of a full term child, she battled 3 rounds of cancer.  Through all of those storms, I never heard my grandma complain once.  She was never a “woe is me” woman. She was truly a strong, irish warrior.  

“And may you be surrounded by your grandchildren.

    Happiness to you! And happiness to Israel!”

Psalms 128:6 

It is hard to honor my grandma without talking about my grandpa too.  They were a team and most the time where you found one, you found the other.  Growing up, there are so many memories with my grandparents.  Almost every summer we would all go on family vacation together. Those are memories that I will never forget, camping in North Carolina along the ocean, traveling up the East Coast to Nova Scotia.  Priceless memories.  Not to mention the countless trips we took up to the lakes and to Toft’s for ice cream or just hoping in the vehicle and going to Hartville or Amish Country. 

Later in life, Jason and I had the honor of taking them on what might have been their last vacation.  Grandma & Grandpa were known for getting in the car and driving hours to go to a good restarunt.  Well, this time they decided they wanted seafood, and not just any seafood, they wanted to go to Captain George’s in Williamsburg, Virginia.  They were 89 years old and couldn’t drive that far, so they asked Jason and I to take them.  We all piled in our van and set out for Williamsburg. Once again, priceless, my children were able to experience a family vacation, just like I had, with my grandma & grandpa.  Memories we will all cherish and hold dear.  

When my sister and I were young, in the winter, if there was a snow day, we would all pile in their van and go on an adventure. We never knew where we would end up, but it was always fun. As kids, my grandparents made doll furniture and it was always fun to go along with them to craft shows and help them.  We would get up in the wee hours of the morning just to be able to go along with them. Not many kids would do that, but we loved them and loved being with them.  All the lessons, love and legacy that my grandma & grandpa instilled in us.  It is easy to say that my grandparents were always surrounded by their grandchildren and great grandchildren. 

My grandparents always knew that this was only their temporary home, that their permanent home was in Heaven.  Grandma & Grandpa had great love for their grandchildren and great grandchildren, they always wanted to be surrounded by them here on earth. But their greatest heart desire was to know that each and every one of their grandchildren and great grandchildren would eventually surround them in their permanent home, Heaven. 

“For wives, this means being supportive to your husbands like you are tenderly devoted to our Lord, for the husband provides leadership for the wife, just as Christ provides leadership for his church, as the Savior and Reviver of the body. In the same way the church is devoted to Christ, let the wives be devoted to their husbands in everything.”

Ephesians 5:22-24

One of the most valuable lessons that I learned from my grandparents, was how it looked to love your spouse.  Never in my 40 years did I ever hear them bicker, or fight or talk bad about each other.  Even up until the end, I remember my grandpa buying these glass roses for my grandma on Valentines day or their anniversary.  Even when they were 97, they were still holding hands.  My grandparents truly loved each other. My Grandma was supportive and devoted to my Grandpa. 

I will always cling to this memory that was always talked about.  My Grandma when she was 25, she boarded a train and road west from Smithville/Wooster, Ohio and rode it all the way to California where my Grandpa was stationed in the Air Force.  It always blew my mind, a quiet, reserved woman like my grandma doing that.  How they loved each other and how they respected each other is a legacy of love that my kids were able to witness.

When I learned that Hospice had been called in for my Grandma, it hurt my heart. I was deeply saddened at what loss we were going to suffer.  I asked my husband that evening, is it okay for me to be sad, but glad.  Of course, his response was “yes”. But this is why I asked him that question.  

My grandpa passed away in June of 2016.  One common conversation between them was always that grandma needed to take care of herself, because grandpa wanted to celebrate their 100 year birthdays together.  Well, grandpa ended up going to heaven first.  Ever since grandpa passed away, I knew that it would be hard for everyone to face grandma celebrating 100 here on earth, without grandpa. If we are all honest, we all wanted her to be with grandpa for that. Now they will get to celebrate this milestone together. Grandpa’s 100th birthday would have been February 15th and my Grandma’s would have been April 1st. When my grandpa passed, they were married for 72 years! And now they they will also get to celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary together, which would have been February 12th. 

What a lasting legacy of love that we witnessed, but also a lasting legacy to be able to share with others.  I am sure that when my grandma gets to see Jesus, “well done thou good and faithful servant”, will come from His lips.