I usually stopped by my Grandmother's house on Tuesday's after I finished Bible Study. I had a couple of hours until I had to pick up Miles, so it gave me enough time to play some checkers, work on a puzzle, and catch up what was going on.
This was my view most Tuesday's...
As you can tell, puzzles really weren't her thing.
Her activity of choice was checkers and I never beat her.
Today is Tuesday.
I am suppose to be getting my booty kicked in checkers right now. But I'm not.
After Bible Study, I had to remind myself to turn left instead of right.
Don't you wish you knew the lasts as they are happening.
The last game of checkers you'll play.
The last puzzle you'll put together.
The last time you hear the story of her getting engaged and married the same day.
Missing my #tuesdayswithmeme today.
She was a Proverbs 31 woman in every way. A Proverbs woman is a
godly, dedicated woman who brings glory to God and joy to her family. That is exactly who my Grandmother was and what her life
was about. She was a woman who left a
legacy of faith, commitment, and love.
“Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies.
Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life.
She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life”
{Proverbs 31:10-12}
Meme was a priceless treasure to her husband and
children. She was, indeed, “more
precious than rubies”. She honored,
loved and esteemed her husband “all the days of her life.” Her daughters describe her as a loving wife
and mother. She was selfless in
every way. She was a good listener, an
incredible friend and spending time with her family was what she enjoyed the
most.
“She shops around for the best years and cottons, and enjoys knitting
and sewing. She is like a merchant’s ship, bringing her food from afar. She’s up before dawn, preparing breakfast for her family and organizing
her day. She looks over a field and buys it, then, with money she’s put aside,
plants a garden. First thing in the morning, she dresses for work, rolls up her sleeves,
eager to get started. She senses the worth of her work, is in no hurry to call it quits for
the day. She’s skilled in the crafts of home and hearth, diligent in homemaking. She’s quick to assist anyone in need, reaches out to help the poor. She doesn’t worry about her family when it snows; their winter clothes
are all mended and ready to wear. She
makes her own clothing and dresses in colorful linens and silks.”
{Proverbs 31:13-22}
Just like the Proverbs woman, Meme was a hard worker. Whether she was sewing dresses for her
daughters and grand-daughters, doing hair at the beauty shop or working at
Dillard’s, she willingly worked and faithfully did her share. She was so talented and creative, she was
good at everything she tried. Painting,
ceramics, cake decorating, knitting, sewing, playing the piano, singing… she
could do it all. The handmade Christmas
stockings, stuffed animals, blankets, and dolls are treasured items the
grandchildren have saved all these years.
Her peanut butter and syrup sandwiches, popcorn popped on the stove, and
fluffy egg sandwiches were favorites among the grand kids.
“Her husband is greatly respected when he deliberates with the city
fathers.”
She designs gowns and sells them, brings the sweaters she knits to the
dress shops.
She is clothed with strength and dignity, and always faces tomorrow
with a smile.
When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say, and she always
says it kindly.”
{Proverbs 31:23-26}
Meme was a very classy lady.
“Clothed with strength and dignity” is an appropriate and accurate
description of the way she carried herself.
She was full of wisdom and quick to extend grace. Her words were laced with love and
kindness. She was a very intentional and
purposeful Grandmother. The
grandchildren tell stories of her teaching them books of the Bible, the States
and Capitals, the names of flowers and trees.
But most of the things they learned were not from the words she spoke,
but the way she lived. She was a
servant-leader and she lead by example. She
was a faithful wife who made it her business to love and serve her husband. She loved the church and made it a priority
her whole life. And she taught the girls
the importance of getting your hair done and your gray covered, which was
reinforced every Christmas with gifts of shampoo for color-treated hair.
“She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing
from laziness. Her children respect and bless her; her husband praises her: ‘Many women have done wonderful things, but you’ve outclassed them
all!’ Charm is deceptive and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the
Lord will be greatly praised. Reward her
for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.”
{Proverbs 31:27-31}
As the family sat around and talked about Meme the night before her funeral, they had nothing but respect and admiration for her. All of the memories and all of the stories of
Meme can be summed up in one word, FAMILY.
She loved her family and she loved us well. She took us on walks to the library for story time , to the park to feed the ducks and she would sing the whole time. She had a song for everything. She loved to tell us stories of the days
she played basketball and of the time she heard Achel Hardcastle was in town
and got all dressed up to walked up and down the street, trying to get him to
notice her… and it worked. To hear the
two of them share their love story maybe our family’s most precious
memory. She loved talking with us and
catching up on our lives. Her
relationship with each one of her children and grandchildren was personal and
unique. She was a Mom to the in-laws who
had lost their mother’s, she was a friend to call when some of us lived away,
she was a willing dinner date if we were going to Luby’s, Braums, Western
Sizzlin, or Marketplace, and she was always up for a game of checkers. She was the best checkers player in the world
and was so competitive, she wouldn’t even go easy on the little ones. Yes, Meme indeed “outclassed them all.” If you want to know what she valued, just
look at her calendar. It was filled, not
with activities and appointments, but with birthdays and anniversaries of
everyone in the family. She celebrated
each one of our lives and each one of our marriages. We were valuable to her and she was priceless
to us.
