Grandmothers

I got a message on Friday that my co-worker's Grandmother had died in an assisted living facility the day after she had taken her children to say goodbye. Her children are relatively young and were taking the impending death of their Great-Grandmother particularly hard, as this is the closest person in their lives that had ever passed away. I thought about this while sitting in my cubicle, feeling powerless to help them understand that their lives would be irrevocably changed. Truthfully, no matter how old you are, when you lose your Grandmother, you lose part of your ability to be a child.

These seem like harsh words, but it's really two-fold. While you'll never have that person that loves you like no one else could, you'll start to really relish a lifetime of lessons that she taught you on how to be a courageous and loving person. If Grandmothers are anything in this world, they're the teachers and the storytellers that make people into the loving and compassionate souls that we are capable of being to each other, to the earth and to ourselves. When I meet someone that is a little too wicked, I often wonder if a Grandmother could've solved a life filled with hate and lovelessness.

Of course, when my co-worker shared this with me, I couldn't help but think back to my Gram's death and how lead the charge in the changes in my life that have brought me to the woman that I am today. In 2008, I wasn't prepared for the years of loss that I felt in her passing, but when I think back about it in 2015, I wonder if her death wasn't the catalyst for a lot of really pivotal changes: my job, my mental health, my relationships with people and eventually my marriage. When I think about how much I have worked on myself in these last seven years, I have to wonder if her courage to be exactly what she wanted to be became my courage to do the same.

Although having my own children isn't in the cards for me, I hope that some day I'll be able to become a surrogate Grandmother to women that need to know how about much they matter in this world that often tells them exactly the opposite. If I can convince one woman that this so, then I've lived a lifetime worthwhile.

When Gram died, my mother and I were slated with a ton of tasks. One was to select a card that would be available at her viewing. Although Biblical passages are often customary, I just didn't feel like it would be appropriate for her. I remember her saying that she liked, "Let Your Love Flow," by The Bellamy Brothers. I thought that although she sometimes had a funny way of showing it, Betty often lived her life as she lived this song: caring about people, appreciating the little things and genuinely loving the world. If I can embrace these lessons and genuinely love, I'll know that I've come full-circle in the lessons that she's imparted. I love you, Gram and think about you all the time!

There's a reason for the sunshinin' sky

And there's a reason why I'm feelin' so high

Must be the season when that

Love light shines all around us

So, let that feelin' grab you deep inside

And send you reelin' where your love can't hide

And then go stealin' through the

Moonlit nights with your lover

Just let your love flow like a mountain stream

And let your love grow with the smallest of dreams

And let your love show and you'll know what I mean

It's the season

Let your love fly like a bird on a wing

And let your love bind you to all livin' things

And let your love shine and you'll know what I mean

That's the reason

There's a reason for the warm sweet nights

And there's a reason for the candlelights

Must be the season when those

Love lights shine all around us

So, let that wonder take you into space

And lay you under its loving embrace

Just feel the thunder as it warms your face

You can't hold back

Just let your love flow like a mountain stream

And let your love grow with the smallest of dreams

And let your love show and you'll know what I mean

It's the season

Let your love fly like a bird on a wing

And let your love bind you to all livin' things

And let your love shine and you'll know what I mean

That's the reason

Just let your love flow like a mountain stream

And let your love grow with the smallest of dreams

And let your love show and you'll know what I mean

It's the season

Let your love fly like a bird on a wing

And let your love bind you to all livin' things

And let your love shine and you'll know what I mean

That's the reason