Friday 26 July 2013

Grandma



This afternoon our Grandma – my mother-in-law from my first marriage – slipped out of this world and went home to Heaven.



A kind, patient, gentle woman, full of faith with a particular quality of innocence, and integrity .  She had a ready laugh and was always the first to offer what she could when any of us were in need of help.

When my children were little, Grandma and Grandad’s place was a second home.  Too many to count, the roast dinners she cooked us every Sunday.  We’d all pile in after church, littlies to bed in the cots she had dotted about in the bedrooms, then the adults enjoyed lunch together while the children napped.  As one by one they woke up, often Grandma was the first upstairs to fetch them down, playing peek-a-boo as she opened the bedroom door.

They loved the books and dressing up box, the paddling pool and wigwam, the dolls’ houses and many other toys at Grandma and Grandad’s house.

She was our main baby-sitter, and every week when she did her own grocery run she would call by our place with two big bags of goodies to help out with our big family.

When my youngest was born she would come by every week to take my twins (then nearly three) to the beach for an ice-cream and to play by the sea.

Grandma was the one who made sure my oldest child remained a little girl even though she had four younger sisters – she was always Grandma’s special little one, and Grandma held the boundary, ensuring big sister had a space to be unburdened by responsibility.

A housegroup leader for years, the one who headed up the pastoral team at chapel, the confidante of countless ministers who learned they could trust her kindness, wisdom and discretion, she supported every church event imaginable – including Boys’ Brigade camp.

She and Grandad were a brilliant team – lovers, friends and partners in building Christ’s kingdom.


A staunch Methodist, she loved hymnody and often used to say “Methodists sing their faith”.  This was one of her favourites:


Her passing was serene and gentle.  As we sat with her this day, we felt peace and beauty fill the room and observed the kindness and tranquillity in her face.

May she rest in peace and rise in glory.

18 comments:

DaisyAnon said...

So sorry to hear this Ember, but glad that her passing was peaceful and she had her family with her.

How wonderful that you were able to have such a loving relationship with her.

Bean said...

I life well lived. What a blessing and what a good witness to you all. May she rest in peace.

My condolences,

Bean

BLD in MT said...

Sorry to think your family and the world has lost such a gem, but thankful for the memories you shared. May she rise up in glory indeed.

Sandra Ann said...

What a beautiful epitaph to such a beautiful lady, such a blessing that you were be able to be with her.

Hugs to you

San xx

Pilgrim said...

I'm sorry for your family's loss. She has beautiful spirit. I'm glad you were blessed with such a wonderful mother-in-law and grandmother for your childrne.

Pen Wilcock said...

:0) xx

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry for you and your family's loss. May you rest in His peace as you adjust to life without her. She sounds to have been a complete blessing,
and the type of grandmother I aspire to be to my grandchildren.
DMW

Pen Wilcock said...

Thank you, friend. Yes, she was a lovely woman. x

Anonymous said...

Aww...that made me cry. Sorry for your loss and what an awesome lady she sounds :-D

Pen Wilcock said...

:0) x

Unknown said...

Great souls are such a blessing in this world ~ as they will be in the one to come! You will miss her, but you will see her again & there is such joy in knowing that! {{{!♥♥♥}}}

Pen Wilcock said...

:0) xx

Rebecca said...

Thank you for sharing these vignettes into the life of an exemplary woman. You were blessed to know her; I am blessed to have read of her. I'm sure she'll live on beautifully in your memory and those of your children.

(...and though not a Methodist, I too sing my faith ♪)

Pen Wilcock said...

:0) x

Pen Wilcock said...

Ruth Ferguson - thank you for your email - I will keep our friend in my prayers; God bless and keep her. xx

margaret said...

Memory eternal!

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

What an inspiration and beautiful testimony of one who was faithful to the end. What an encouragement for me as a new grandmother.
Thanks for sharing and sorry for your loss, yet rejoicing for her entry in heaven.

Pen Wilcock said...

Yes, she was lovely. She will fit right in, in heaven. xx