Remembering Gramma Gayle « Feminine::Espresso

February 25. It went down in my history two years ago as a sad day. A day that death came and robbed the world of a truly beautiful and precious woman.Gramma. It’s hard to believe it’s been two years since she left. It seems longer than that, yet the pain of her sudden departure is still so fresh that whenever I sit down to pen my most precious memories of her, it is through a haze of emotion, my thoughts smeared with tears.

There’s the memories of the times I managed to claim the coveted seat next to Gramma at church, being little enough that my lace-frilled ankles hardly extended past the edge of my chair, and softly paging through her big, worn, blue Bible that took up my entire lap and then some.

The taste of her summer staple—cucumber salad, is still a pungent memory to my taste buds. Not to mention her amazing strawberry shortcakes.

There are so many sweet things that come to my mind when I remember her, and the beauty of her smiling face will never be erased from my mind.

She was one of those people who managed to touch my life without even trying to. She laughed when I laughed, cried when I cried. She supported me through every phase of my life. There were times I was making foolish choices and wrong decisions, yet she never stood in my way; instead she loved me and prayed for me, and hugged me when I came through—a little wiser with a praying and perceptive Gramma to thank. How I appreciated her.

As the years took their toll and her health began to fail in a major way, I watched Gramma grow stronger. She was a tenacious woman. She loved the unlovable, reached the unreachable, and lived a life of constant giving. I’ll never forget the times I stayed with her when she was sick, helping her pay bills, listening to her favorite program with her—Unshackled (produced by Pacific Garden Mission), and listening to her talk. I had so much to learn from her.

Scripture tells us that God will make all things new, and that our mortal bodies will put on immortality, and that there will be no pain or suffering in heaven. It thrills me to think of Gramma dancing around heaven, no longer leashed to an oxygen tank, no longer struggling for breath; having a new body and singing with a voice as strong and clear as the angels. But when I get there, I hope Gramma still has those smile lines on her face. They added so much charm to her beauty here on earth, that I want them to be on her radiant face next time I kiss her cheek.

lajiemarie Says:

February 26, 2008 at 4:17 am

Scripture tells us that God will make all things new, and that our mortal bodies will put on immortality, and that there will be no pain or suffering in heaven.
Aw, AMEN! What a sweet, sweet, special post! Made me want to cry! Thanks for sharing this special memory with all of us….

uncle jack nelson Says:

February 26, 2008 at 5:12 am

I was just sitting here thinking of my sister Gayle as I do so often, when your E-Mail come.
Your timing was perfect, I was thinking of her and whats funny is everyone thinks of her in the same way. When you went to see her when she was so sick she would ask you all kinds of things about you. She always wanted you to be happy. And my god don’t worry about her. I would ask how are you Gayle? She always come back with noooooooooooooo how are you. I miss her so much, but what keeps me going is that some day we will be together again. She had a favorite song by cowboy Copas, a rich man is a poor man with a satisfied mind. I believe my sister Gayle did have a satisfied mind. She loved and talked about her family all the time. But she is one that was all ears. when you talked to her and you were done she would ask, let me tell you about!!!!!!!!!!!!! she loved talking about her grandkids. She would laugh so hard at the fun times and i would always be smiling for hours after i was done talking with her. I found myself thinking of her the next day and the next day about how much she could love. She loved life and she never felt cheated. You are so lucky to have her blood in you. Thank you very much for the mail.

uncle jack