There is absolutely no feeling in the entire world better than loving someone with your whole heart, and knowing that they love you that very same amount, right back. I personally think there are very few people that we love like that in our lifetime.
Tonight, I got to spend 33 minutes and 2 seconds talking to one of those people! That would be my Grammy. Grammy is my mom's mom. And she could possibly be the most wonderful woman that has ever walked on this earth.
I didn't have the chance to meet my Daddy's parents, because they went to be with Jesus long before I was around, but I've heard stories. I've heard about how my Grandaddy would pop iron coils around his biceps, how he taught my Daddy and my uncles how to play football, and that he was a hard hard working man. I've heard how my Grandmama was a wonderful cook, and when Daddy or his brothers would get out of line, she'd spank them with whatever was in reach. (She'd probably still do it to this day too) I am more than thankful for the times of just sitting and listening to Daddy's stories about his Mama and Daddy, and celebrating their lives on their birthdays, and Mother's and Father's Day.
I'm also very lucky that my mom's parents are still here. My whole life, they've lived 14 hours away, but, how BLESSED I've been that they kept a little beach cottage in my hometown, and that Mama and I would travel those 14 hours to see them every summer growing up. Oh, I'm SURE that there were times that I'd roll my eyes about having to spend time with my grandparents (I'm also sure I was probably 13 when I did this. 13 was a terrible time), but I know that every single Friday night that they were in town, I was curled up on their couch, watching Law & Order with my Pap, drinking Pepsi and sharing a bowl of popcorn, playing card games with Grammy, while snacking on warm, oven-fresh cookies, and reading stories from our favorite storybooks.
Being so so many miles away from them has been one of the most difficult transitions, knowing that they're in their little beach cottage, carrying on, but without their favorite granddaughter...oops...did I say that out-loud....
Mama and I have always talked about how Grammy is Pollyanna. She finds the good, the wonderful, out of every possible bad situation. For example: Break your leg in the middle of high school sports season..."Oh, you know you needed that rest anyways! Now you can catch up!" She loves people with her whole heart, and listens so carefully, with the most beautiful smile that I've ever seen on her face. Even when Pap is so focused on the latest NCIS and completely ignoring her. Her hands are made of silk, but are so strong to stitch pillows, little doll clothes, and to cook all of our favorite foods when she knows we're coming in town. Her heart is made of radiant gold, that shines through her words and service towards others, but is also tuned to make you the best person you could be, and she won't put up with "the non-sense" or "the sass".
Tonight, I called her on Skype (THANK GOODNESS WE TAUGHT THEM TO USE THAT THING), and it was just the two of us. Pap had gone in to take his shower, where I'm sure he'd emerge from the bathroom smelling of fresh shampoo and Ivory soap with his hair combed just so. She wanted to hear all about what I'm doing, as well as make sure I was drinking plenty of liquids to fight the cold I have. As I mentioned to her a few things that were happening here in Guatemala, she pulled out her little pad of paper, and a freshly sharpened pencil (she was a teacher, she knows how it's done), and begins writing all these things down. She wrote down my students' names, and descriptions as I described each of their personalities, she wrote down each prayer request and little detail so she would know how to thank the Lord for my girls, but also how to lift them up in prayer.
Ladies and Gentlemen, let me introduce you to the most delightfully wonderful woman I've ever met. If I am EVER even one-eighteenth of the mother, sister, grandmother, friend, and wife that she is, I'll consider myself successful. Find those people that you love with your whole heart, find 'em, talk to them, glean from them, and never let them go!
{proverbs 31: 10 - 31} "Many women do noble things, but YOU surpass them all"
