Grief

Grete

by Marilyn Meiners 
06/17/21
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Grete met my son when she was sixteen years old. She immediately became a part of our family of three boys. Darrell, who was four years older than her, waited patiently for this “little girl” to graduate high-school and college before he asked her to marry him. In March of 1990, Darrell and Grete were married.

God blessed this couple with three children. First a little girl named Kari Marie. Their second child was a son named Andrew Paul. Their last little girl was named Melissa Nicole. 

Grete was a devoted mother. Involved in all her children’s school activities. She was their loudest cheerleader at all their games, including football, baseball, softball, volleyball, and cricket. Although New Jersey was where they lived, sports activities took them all over the Eastern United States. At the age of ten, our entire family made a trip to Disneyland in Florida where Andrew played in a youth football tournament - winning first place in the nation. You could hear Grete yelling from the sidelines, louder than anyone else. My, how she loved these events, because she loved her children. 

Grete loved the Lord with all her heart. This love could be seen and felt in the way she treated people. She had a “magnetic” personality. Everyone wanted to be around her. In her world, no one was a stranger. Everyone she met became her friend.

June 2019 Grete was diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer, Neuroendocrine Tumors. At the time of diagnosis Grete was told she had three to six months to live, without treatment. With treatment, they had no idea. She chose the treatment.

For over a year she went through various types of experimental chemotherapy to try and eradicate the tumors growing in her body. For over a year she fought with everything in her. She fought courageously. She endured horrible side-affects from the chemotherapy. 

Yet, never once did she complain. 

Last week, August 9, 2020, Grete seemed to take a turn for the worse. She became weaker. Her strength was not there. Her usually humorous self seemed to decline. She struggled just to get around. Was her time running out?

Neither Kari nor Melissa have married, as yet. They knew their mom would not be around for that special day. Saturday, August 15 they made an appointment at a bridal boutique. They asked if they could come and try on wedding dresses so their mother would have the joy of seeing her girls in wedding finery. They wanted their mom to help pick out the style that would, one day, be appropriate for them. They invited myself, their grandmother, to attend this special outing. 

Even though it was hard for Grete to navigate this outing, she went. It was a fun day for all. What a delight to see the smile on the face of Grete as she observed each girl in various wedding dress styles. Dozens of pictures were taken of mom and daughter together. An hour and half later we left for home Mom and daughters having agreed on a style. Although exhausted, there were smiles all around.

That evening, Grete took a turn for the worse. She was taken to the ER, and then to ICU. The doctors made her as comfortable as possible but at 8:00 a.m., Sunday, August 16, Grete left earth and stepped into heaven. Her battle was over. Her new life was just beginning. She was now experiencing standing on the shore “of the river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.” (Revelation 22:1, NLT) 

I smile when I think of how God put together that awesome Saturday experience for her daughters; a wonderful memory with their mother. I smile when I remember the faces of these girls as they had a picture taken with mom, in a wedding dress, just as though it were actually their wedding day. I smile when I think about what Grete is doing in heaven. One thing is very certain - Grete is experiencing no more pain. Her cancer is completely gone. She has a new body, and the smile on her face is beyond description as she looks into the face of her Savior.