Legacy

My grandmother passed away this week.  She was known as "MaMa" or "MawMaw," depending on which side of the family you are on.  MaMa blessed this earth with 95 years, touching endless lives and families with her servant heart.  She passed quietly from this world and now walks with Jesus, her mom (my Granny), sisters, and many other family and friends who have gone on before her.

I bet she is taking in the beauty of Jesus' garden.  She had the greenest thumb of any woman I knew. All house plants ended up in her care as so many of us brought the plants to her for revival.  I will always remember chrysanthemums, lilies, and a multitude of green foliage thriving in her home.

Her family thrived there too.  Children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and anyone who graced her doorstep, left feeling loved.  How she did it, I will never know.  She wasn't the type to busily rush around cleaning and serving her guests.  She sat, listened, and watched.  Much like Jesus' friend Mary in Luke 10:38, Mama visited with you, listened to you, and watched the children playing at her feet.

The children were always her favorite.  Mama smiled at them, laughed at them, and even in her last few months with us, looked them in the eye and gave them a loving "Hey!".  The same box of toys has been in her closet for as long as I can remember, waiting for any child who might stop by.

Mama served her church as Sunday School secretary and Women's Missionary secretary/treasurer for 46 years. There, she was known as "Polly" or "Ms. Scott".  She loved the church and the people in it. The congregation of College Park Baptist Church looked to her as a matriarch, a grandmother to all. She was so very loved by them. She was never involved in a Sunday School class as she wanted to avoid the conversations of the "old ladies" who often did nothing but complain about their aches and pains.

Mama never complained.  Ever.  She just dealt with an ailment as best she could and kept going.  She lived through the Great Depression eating more apple butter than she could ever want.  Once the Depression was over, she refused to touched it again.  Mama often said our country could use going through another Great Depression because it taught you to appreciate everything you had.  Her life was evident of this lesson learned.

My memories of Mama are pretty much grouped into one single memory.  She was always PRESENT.  Whether she was at our home or we were at hers.  Whether she was at church (sitting at the end of the pew near the center aisle) or at one of our extracurricular events, she was there.  Mama was a constant fixture of my childhood.

Mama's Chocolate Meringue Pie, was the best thing you have ever placed on your palette. Heavens.

It is my prayer that this the legacy I can leave for my family and friends.  A legacy of always being PRESENT, watching, listening, and investing in my loved ones.

Mama, you were the best grandmother I could have ever asked for.  My heart will be forever changed by the impact you have had on my life.  Without a doubt, you heard the words of our Savior from Matthew 25:23, "Well done good and faithful servant."   

You will be forever missed. 

I love you,

Leah

PS  Would you find our pup, TJ?  I know you were never a fan of the family pets, but if you could give TJ a pat on the head and tell him his family misses him every day, that would be great.  

http://www.memorialsolutions.com/sitemaker/sites/Townes1/memsol.cgi?user_id=1752238#