My Meme - "I think of God when I think of Meme" ~ Mackenzie

Julie: "Papa, can I come over?"

Papa: "What! No...we're not home! **PAUSE** Marilon, there's a little rug-rat calling wanting to come over, aren't we busy!?"

Meme: "Ahh, no, I don't think so!"

Papa: "OK, guess we're not busy. Come on over."
Followed by, "Honey, you know you can come over here anytime!"

As I walked, skipped or jumped rope the 3/4 mile to my grandparents house, I always knew I was walking into a place where I was loved. They would drop any and everything they were doing to entertain their granddaughter, no matter how old I got. Living at Holly Lake Ranch, I frequently caddied them around the golf course, swam in the near-by pool, (where Adam and I eventually met), shot some hoops, sandied our feet in the volleyball courts or laughed at my attempts at putt-putt. In my teen years, my Grandfather would take me out in his old '79 silver, single cab, no a/c standard transmission Dodge Ram pick up truck. He'd drive me out to where the hills looked like mountains, and half way up he'd pull up the emergency brake and tell me it was my turn to drive. I'm surprised the whip lash didn't permanently damage him! I eventually learned, but not without being completely embarrassed, as there were usually casual walkers or joggers observing the whole thing.

Meanwhile, back at home, Meme would be fixing dinner and starting some homemade ice-cream. She had a recipe, but always improvised, so we all had to taste test it and usually add a little more vanilla or sugar. Then into the churner it went and we could only wait eagerly with watering mouths for that first bite of creamy, vanilla ice cream drizzled with chocolate but made with love.

My Grandmother is the fulfillment of 1 Peter 4:9, "Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling." She'd welcome anyone into her home, fix them a marvelous meal, prop their feet up, bandage their wounds, or soothe their aches and leave them feeling as if they hung the moon. She truly modeled what a servant's heart looks like in everyday life. Never whining, nor complaining, nothing too hard, too small, tall or large for her to tackle. Yet I don't believe she ever realized just how amazing she was at it all. She could sew clothes, mend curtains, change the upholstery - then go play a tennis match, round of golf or a hand of bridge.

My Meme suffered a terrible loss when her daughter Cindy passed away back in 2005. She fought for her life for a year in the hospital and my grandparents never left her side. When Jesus took Cindy home, Meme was never the same again. She had truly spent all of her life on others. Now, it was our turn to serve and give of ourselves to her. Every day tasks like dressing and eating became difficult and required help. Frustrations and exhaustion - questions - decisions. When last Saturday I got an early 8:00 call from my granddad, who now lives across the road from us, "Meme's fallen and hurt her shoulder," he says, "I think we need to take her in." She has fractured her shoulder on the outside, but on the inside, I believe Jesus is preparing her for Home. "O God take me," she has cried. I wonder if she sees glimpses of Heavenly glory and then when she opens her eyes and finds herself still in the hospital bed, her heart aches. There's such pain, heartache and suffering in this life. But thanks be to God that He's preparing mansions in glory for us! When He calls my precious Meme home, she will feel no more pain! Her shoulder will be restored and she will trade her old, worn out body for a new imperishable one! As Mackenzie (5 at the time) sums it all up, "I think of God when I think of Meme." What a legacy of being a godly woman she passes on to us.