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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Bold (emotionally) (08/30/07)
A Gift to Me

As I sit here and gaze at this picture on my desk, it takes me back to my painful, but rewarding, childhood. This lady in my picture is a gift from God to me, my Grandma, Dora.

Grandma was a very private person to most; but she revealed herself to me, as I was her captive audience. She could be open and honest without rejection. In my eyes she is the symbol of a bold and daring woman living above her circumstances and far ahead of her time.

Her background was always so fascinating to me. She was a great storyteller, and I would listen to her for hours as she shared her heart with me.

Her mother was a full blood Cherokee Indian, who died having her. She grew up doing hard work in the fields, and learned how to sew and cook, so that she would be a good candidate for a wife. Because of her Indian heritage she was not allowed to complete more than an eighth grade education.

Then the tragedy happened when Grandma boldly dared to pick a husband her father did not approve of. This resulted in his suicide death with her the cause.

But Grandma was strong. She went on to have five children, all of whom she delivered by herself. She worked the fields with the science of nature and her Indian heritage.

Then Grandma became an early widow facing the depression and raising her children alone. She was a talented seamstress and cook, and proceeded to make a living for them by using those gifts. She was such a skilled worker that during World War II she taught others to sew for their families and also make uniforms for the troops.

She instilled in her children the love of the Lord, country, and seeking a good education as the keys to overcoming her past. Four of her five children graduated from High School and went on to higher education levels.


My Mom quit school and made some unwise choices. She had me to care for, and became the town alcoholic. Grandma saw that as her failure and spent the rest of her life doing whatever it took to see that my Mom and I were taken care of. Grandma never earned the living she could have, nor put her happiness ahead of us.

Grandma was my entertainment, as we had no transportation, and she tried to teach me how to play cards, sew and cook; but none of these were my gifts.

I can remember, she had this little wooden box, with little scrolls rolled up inside of it. They each had a verse of Bible scripture on it and we would pick one and read it together every day. She also saw that I went to church and Sunday school every week, even though she never felt worthy enough to enter into our church.

Grandma was the strong, bold face of my future. She never voted or drove a car, in keeping with a promise to her Dad. But she always had an opinion on both issues. We were the last ones to get a television, she never told me I was overweight, which I was, or that she was not pleased with me; even though I was not as popular as most of her other grandchildren.


In looking back, long after I had left home and made some unwise choices of my own; I still remember Grandma living with and seeing that my Mom was taken care of.

Some of the last conversations I had with my Grandma, I encouraged her to just rest, and assured her she had lived a wonderful life, and that God was well pleased with her. She lived to be ninety-eight; and wanted to live to be one hundred, so that I could too.

Recently I found an old Bible that Grandma had given to me many years ago, with these words inscribed from her. "May the blessings of God be with you always, and keep you safe from all harm."

One day I will be able to share with her, that her prayer for me was answered. And that because she was willing to be bold and share her life with me; I can live and do the same for others.
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This article has been read 881 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
pam Leitermann
09/06/07
I thought your story was well written and it made me think of my granny! great job
Jennifer Johnson
09/07/07
My grandfather was my favorite relative because he loved me for me...period. You've captured the essence of unconditional love that grandparents often give. Try splitting up sentences where there may be too many ideas hooked together, like: "Grandma was my entertainment, as we had no transportation, and she tried to teach me how to play cards, sew and cook; but none of these were my gifts." Thank God for grandmas!
Donna New
09/08/07
Times are so difficult in every era. You brought to mind how resilient we need to be. Good job.
victoria teran
09/13/07
Wow! What a testimony to what one person can do in another's life!
Just goes to show we never know the influence we can be to those around us.
GOD is so good and knows that many of us would be lost without the boldness of people like your Grandma.