An interesting thing happened to me last week. My Grandmom Gerle was heavy on my mind. She always is this time of year and I think it is for two reasons. She passed away a few spring season's ago after a battle with cancer. In addition, her birthday was in April. I still carry around the Easter card I was going to mail to her a few years ago. Her health declined so rapidly in the end, I didn't mail it. I am not sure why I still carry it. Maybe I just don't want to admit she is not here so that one day I will see it and think...geesh I need to pop that in the mail to her! When I arrived at my weekly ACTS team meeting this past Thursday, I was not sure what the spiritual topic would be. The Spiritual Leader had chose a topic about strong women in our lives as it is Women's History Month. She has us listen to a song and go around and talk about the women in our lives. Here is a few lines from the song:
They are faces in photographs
Heads all held high
Not afraid to look life in the eye
They were women with backbone
Keepers of the flame
with a spirit even hard times couldn't tame
And I know this same blood is in me
And I meet their gaze one by one
Eyes strong and clear
I still feel them near
These are the women I come from
the faith that sustained them is bred in my bones
I know what I'm made of and where I belong
'Cause these are the women I some from"
How interesting! I told them all that my Grandmom had been heavy on my mind for days. I would talk to her sometimes and ask...what would YOU tell me Grandmom? I miss her candor. Her words were sometimes NOT what you wanted to hear, but always right on the money! When I listed to the song's words, I could see the faces of all the women in my life (I am sooo blessed by them all) but when it came time to talk, I talked about my Grandmom. I spoke about how amazed I was that in the end she was not afraid. She was so strong and SURE that she would see my Grandpop and Jesus in heaven. She looked so peaceful and ready. I spoke about wanting that kind of faith someday.
I love you Grandmom and Happy Birthday!
