Some years are more significant than others. You look back as yet another one passes into the next thinking about the past. I will remember 2014 as the year my grandmother went home. She passed away on November 24. Doris Darleen Oliver was more that just your average grandma to me. She was the easiest person to say hi to and the hardest person to say goodbye too. She loved her family. She defined in my mind what family was suppose to be.
Grandma had tabs on everyone in the family. She wanted everyone to be alright. It was upsetting to her to hear that someone in the family was having trouble. She fought, worked, loved hard for her family. Those values trickled down to her children and her grandchildren. When my Grandma was sick or was having surgery there was at least 10 people in that room. We drove, flew did whatever if she was having some thing done. It was her strength that was admirable. She had been through a lot. We tried to make sure we were there.
My Grandmother much like myself suffered from chronic pain. Most of her life she had migraines. Later she suffered from issues with her knee. Eventually she had lost that leg due to staph infection. My Grandmother unlike me had lost three children in her lifetime. She had the best demeanor. She was usually happy. She rarely had a cross word unless you deserved it. She was truthful. She did not have time for nonsense. She didn't have time for childish behavior. She wasn't your regular grandma spoiling wasn't her thing. The things you learned from Grandma were timeless.
I learned that having faith that God won't give you more than you can handle. I learned that God thought that Grandma was really strong. I learned that God was right. I learned that even if things are bad you can encourage others. My Grandmother's life was no picnic of roses. It was rough to say the least. You wouldn't of known that talking to her. She would of talked of her children and grandchildren. She would have been smiling. She wouldn't of told you of the pain and probably the desire for it to end. She loved and was loved. That is what we were put on this earth to do.
Even though later in her life my Grandma suffered from dementia, her face still lit up when you saw her. She still tried to smile when you came in the room. I rejoice that she is home. I rejoice that she is reunited with the loved ones that are no longer here. I rejoice that she is no longer in pain. I most of all rejoice that one day I will see her again. Until than I will do as she taught me. I will fight, work, and love hard for my family. I will know that in Christ I can persevere.
