When I was a child, I loved visiting my grandmother. I knew that she loved me unconditionally. That in itself was an incredible gift that I appreciate more as I grow older.
I loved spending my summers there, the smell of freshly cut grass, as the motor of one lawn mower or another in her neighborhood drifted on the breeze through the open, screened windows. Often, I would hear Bob Barker’s voice as he announced the “next contestant on The Price is Right.”
I spent hours playing with my favorite doll, Sally, dressing her in clothes my grandmother made for her. Oh, how I wish I had learned more about sewing from my grandmother!
I had a best friend, Ann, that lived beside my grandmother. We spent many afternoons, barefoot, playing under the dogwood tree, the lush green moss providing soft carpet for our not-so-tender feet.
Sometimes, a melody reached my ears as my grandmother played one song or another on her piano. Or perhaps it was one of her music students. Music was a large part of my grandmother’s life and legacy. That is where I learned to play. And where I first discovered my love of music.
One thing I remember most about my grandmother is her reading her Bible every day. She was thrilled with every promise she read and so excited to dive into God’s word. I remember hearing her pray. I know she prayed for me, as well as my cousins and our families, and the families we would all have one day. I had hoped she would be around to see my children, but God had other plans. Oh, how she would have loved my babies!
I didn’t appreciate her daily Bible reading at the time. I didn’t want to sit there and listen to her read words I barely understood. I couldn’t fathom why she thought it was so important for me to listen. I wanted to play with my doll or climb a tree , or watch TV, or just about anything else. But I am so thankful today for that time with her, now. She showed me what it meant to live in the joy of the Lord.
I was raised in the church. I attended every Sunday morning and most Sunday nights. And sometimes even Wednesdays. I was active in GA’s and Acteens. I attended several Vacation Bible Schools every summer. But none of that compared with the lessons I learned from my grandmother!
Some of my favorite times with my grandmother were when I crawled into her lap, in the old brown leather rocking chair that squeaked when she rocked. It was there that she would sing me to sleep at the end of the day. And, more importantly, that was where she taught me so many Bible stories. She taught me about the heroes of the Bible and how God used them in a mighty way. Stories about Noah and the Ark, Adam and Eve, David the shepherd boy who became king, Moses who led God’s people out of Egypt, and Joshua who fought the battle of Jericho. Of course, she taught me about Jesus and His birth, death, burial, resurrection, and His ascension. And she taught me how one day He will return.
The stories of these heroes inspired me to want to be better. They provided me an incredible foundation of Biblical knowledge. But she didn’t stop there. I believe my grandmother recognized that it is important to have heroes to look up to. But when it comes to faith, it is equally important to understand human failures and shortcomings. God often uses weak and flawed people to work throughout the tapestry of history. She made sure I knew about many of these, as well.
- Adam and Eve, the first created people, were also the first to disobey God, invited sin into the world, and the first to suffer the consequences of their disobedience.
- The people in the days of Noah would not heed God’s warning to repent. All were drowned in the flood, except for Noah, his wife, his three sons, and his sons’ wives. She made sure I understood that it was their disobedience that caused their punishment, not a vengeful God.
- The people who built the Tower of Babel in rebellion against God, and God confused their languages so they could not complete the Tower.
- Abraham, while he believed that God would make him into a great nation through his children (that he didn’t have at the time), he didn’t trust God’s timing. Instead, he had a child with another woman. God made that child a great nation as well, but they were then at strife with the child of promise (Isaac) throughout history.
- Moses, who God spoke with face-to-face, also disobeyed God before the Children of Israel and was not allowed to enter the Promised Land.
- David, although he was king, committed adultery and murder to cover up his sin.
- Solomon, although the wisest man and king, denied himself no pleasure under the sun, and compromised in his worship of the Most High God.
- Judas, who betrayed Jesus to be crucified.
- Saul, later known as Paul, who persecuted the early Christians, even holding the coats of those who stoned the apostle, Stephen.
As I’ve been writing, I’ve remembered so many stories that my grandmother taught me. There is not enough time and space here to even list all of them! These stories helped lay the foundation for when, years later, I would trust in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. That was the day I first understood the joy she lived out every day.
My grandmother was the first person so close to me that died. I was not living a Christian life at the time, and I had forgotten many things she taught me. In fact, I wasn’t a believer when she died. I wish I could have shared with her the day I believed. Oh, what joy that would have brought her. But I do believe that one day we will celebrate together at the feet of Jesus.
I have so many good memories of my grandmother. But I will forever be most grateful for the legacy of faith she left me. She did not have many worldly possessions. In fact, I did not inherit much from her at all, not even my beloved baby doll or the books under the telephone beside the couch. She could be kind of silly sometimes. But nothing could compare to the love she had for me or the love that she had for her Lord, that she passed on to me. Without those two things, I doubt I would be the woman I am today.
Who has been a driving influence in your life? I’d love to hear about it! Contact me at tamarajoye@countitalljoye.com.