Wednesday morning at 9am, I received a phone call that I had been expecting for sometime.  My grandmother had been in a 13 year battle with Alzheimer’s and it ended early Wednesday morning.  It’s an odd thing to think that death is a blessing.  But, in this case, it’s healing.  As Christians we find hope in death.  Hope of eternity.  Hope of reunion.  Hope of healing.  I’m a little jealous that Grandma is in that hope today.  She has her memory back.  And, we’ll be with her again.

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These pictures are from May 23, 2009.  Isaac is just 17 days old here.  The beginning of life.  And, here is Grandma at the end.  The end of a GREAT life.

If 2 things could be said about her, you knew 1. she loved her family and 2. she loved the LORD.

1.  We didn’t always see eye to eye.  Probably because we were both so bullheaded.  But, I knew she loved me.  She would have done anything for me.  She helped raise Daniel & I.  Both she and Grandpa were around all the time.  A constant example of love and commitment.

2.  And we, knew she loved GOD.  A former missionary nurse to Kenya, she littered the house with trinkets and keepsakes, elephant statues and ivory from her time in Africa.  She spoke of service with such a fondness in her heart.  She sang in the choir as long as she was able.  She played the piano beautifully. She worshiped.  Everyone knew that first came GOD, then came Harold and her family… No questions.

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13 years ago she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.  It progressed pretty quickly.  But, Grandpa never faltered.  Never gave up hope that she would be healed. The last few years we watched a new kind of love grow between the two of them.  He cared for her the way I care for Isaac: feeding, diaper changes, the whole nine yards.  He was probably the only person that she really recognized.  She would stare at him while he was in the room.  Constantly with a smile.  Always knowing the love that was shared between the two of them.

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Now, she’s healed.  She has her memory back and she’s sitting at some piano somewhere in Heaven playing her favorite hymns.

We miss you, Grandma.  But, we’ll see you soon.
We love you.

PJT//