A Presidential Grandmother

2008-11-08T21:08:00.000-08:00

It has been a year and a half since my grandmother left us. When I heard an interview with our newly elected President, Barack Obama, mention the news of his grandmother's illness, then death I could really identify with him. Death seems to come at untimely times for those who are left behind, but God's Plan still lives on. My grandmother was of presidential status to us. I am sure that your grandmother is just as important to you. America will remain a united nation. Many of our values stem from our mothers and grandmothers. Their dreams live on in us. We add to those dreams day by day. We just have to sit still sometimes and hear the roses bloom, and smell the aroma of the hot Community coffee.

I often wish I would have asked her more detailed questions like, "Ma are your scared of the dark now?" or "Have you heard anything else from Jesus?" or "Tell me more stories about your childhood!" My grandmother has visited me on at least two occassions during my sleep, since her death. I know that her thoughts and prayers meant something wonderful for the family. I realized after her death, that there were times when I had asked my grandmother of her opinions and advice about men or raising children, before I had asked God. I had to repent because once she did leave this Earth, I realized that I should have asked God first! We all learned to rely on her direct line of communication to God. Now, I have established my own line and it is so very exciting to learn more, and more each day from Him. It is the love of God that drives me to do more than my share day after day, night after night, and year after year regarding my children, my work, or my businesses. I see so much more since my grandmother's death. I see so much opportunity to help others. Knowing her helped me to find my own passion.

Just as I started sneezing tonight, my mind wondered to a time when I could see us; my little sister and two other cousins standing in our grandmother's kitchen near the sink, then waiting in line to take that nasty cod liver oil from the spoon that her hand held with an orange slice waiting to be quickly squeezed into our mouths. I can see her holding one of her great grandchildren on her knees in that old truquoise blue leather rocking chair that one of her brothers had someone make for her. It is true that memories do not die. They live on! So, go find your pictures and put them in a scrapbook. Sit with your kids and tell them stories of what use to be; how you use to walk to the store on the hill with your grandmother to buy some penny candy. Tell how you remember hearing that one of your Great Uncle's was hit by a car at night when he tried to cross the highway. I remember hearing how another one never came back from the Vietnam War right, as he would have bad dreams and night sweats which caused him to continue to drink. I remember many of the realties of life, as I walked near the tail of the colorful zippered dusters my grandmother wore. My children still talk about her and call her name from time to time, as they wonder about this, or about that regarding her. The ink print that she left is so strong. I remember..... Make the time to talk to your family members. Get back to the basics. Our entire lives were built around our Presidential Grandma. The names change, but their love remains the same.

ZONA'S PLACE BLOG

A Presidential Grandmother