Proverbs 3:5-6

Grandma Ninon passed away last Thursday.  She was 86 years old and lived a good long life.  Saying that she was a devout Christian her entire life is a big understatement.  Christ was the center of her world and every word or thing that she did showed that.  I received a letter from her in the mail the day after she died.  In her letters she would always write a verse in them for me to look up. 

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.

She couldn't have picked a better verse, it is so fitting.  I have been thinking a lot about her and her life and I am so struck by what an amazing woman she was.  First of all, just living 86 years is amazing.  "She was born in 1923 on the family farm" reads her obituary.  She was born on the family farm.  I have been thinking about all of the events that she lived through.  I wonder how many times the economy went from low to high to low again in the past 86 years.  I think about wars, presidents, and world events.  So much of what I read about in history class - she endured.

One of my family members shared at the prayer service that Grandma and Grandpa had survived a fire, losing everything that they owned.  I had heard about the fire, but not that they had lived in a chicken coop for a year to get by after that.  A chicken coop.  Next time I complain about anything I will try to remember this. 

"Ninon was preceeded in death by her parents; husband; four brothers; and a sister."  Everyone in her immediate family died before she did.  Imagine what that would be like.  She was married for 64 years before my grandpa passed away in 2006 and bravely faced those next almost four years of life without him by her side as he had been every second before he passed.  How do you live with someone every day for 64 years and then suddenly carry on without them?

And through all of this she carried a smile on her face.  I don't remember seeing her without a smile on her face.  Ever.  Ever.  In fact, we don't remember Grandma Ninon ever crying, unless she got to laughing so hard that tears started to roll down her face (which at times was followed by her peeing her pants).  She saw every experience in a positive way, fully trusting that God had a plan for her life.  Her faith, talking to God, and praying for others was always the most important thing.  Throughout everything.

Five minutes before her last breath we are told by the staff at the nursing home that the french doors leading out to the courtyard that are always locked (it was nighttime and the courtyard is full of snow) suddenly blew open.  We all know that angels were coming to take her home.  Goodbye for now Grandma, I will see you again someday.  Until that day I pray that I can have faith like yours.