Saturday, September 14, 2013

What My Grandma's Death Means to Me

Oh Grandma...you sneaked off to Heaven, didn't you?  No more pain, no more tears.  No more worries about money or misbehaving children or hospital bills.  Ben says you are eating a lollipop with God.  Well, are you?  I think I know what Jesus said to you when He opened the front door.

"I'm so glad you're here, Aleta.  I know you asked me so many times what I wanted you to do.  All I ever wanted was for you to Save My Place until I could come get my children.  You did that, Aleta.  Come on in and rest."

I see myself in my grandma.  I don't know if it's our shared profile or our shared name or our shared humor but I see so much of me in who she was.  I know she hollered at her four boys and one girl because I holler at my four boys and one girl.  They're just such rascals! I know that she was sorry after she did it just like I'm sorry after I do it.  I am almost certain that when she was around 17 she asked God to make her nose more like Audrey Hepburn's and less Germanish because I most certainly looked in the mirror and asked God to make my nose more like Audrey Hepburn's and less Germanish. 

And I know that I know that I know that she asked God what He wanted from her so many many times over and over.  I know because I do.  And I know that I know that I know that His answer was always the same...

"I need you here to Save My Place.  When I left the disciples on that hill, and went home to to be with my Father, I was basically saying.....Hey, this is my spot right here and I need you to save it for me.  I'll be back in a bit.  Just do what I would do.  Love people.  Forgive people.  Die to yourself.  Don't do your own thing.  That will knock you on your keester."

I know that she asked Him if He could just make it a lot harder to sin and a lot easier to obey.  I ask Him that all the time.  He keeps saying...be faithful....just be faithful.

My grandma was faithful.  She could have walked away from the Lord at any time.  But because she didn't, she directly turned the souls of her children and her children's children and her children's children's children to a life of eternity with Jesus.  While she struggled through each day to die to herself and Save that place for Jesus she was responsible for the Gospel reaching my heart and pointing it to Heaven.

Oh Grandma...I wish I can sneak my way to Heaven too but Jesus said I still need to Save His Place for a while.  Thank you for choosing Jesus.  I don't know where I'd be if you didn't.  I love you.

"I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!" Ps27


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