Legacy

This life is both beautiful and painful.  Complicated and simple.  Fast and slow.  Surprising and rhythmic.  It’s a whirlwind of experiences and emotions.  I think the crazy of this world is such a contrast of God's steadfastness.  I love that He reveals just how faithful and constant He is throughout creation.  He builds legacy among His children and links us through the ties of "common threads"—commonalities in circumstance, emotions, struggle and giftedness.

This week I've been thinking about legacy a lot as my spunky, loving, passionate grandma went to be with Jesus.  Her love of life and people was endless and her perseverance was something to be admired.  As I started to think about all of the things I love about my grandma I saw traces of amazing biblical women in the way she lived her life.  In Luke 10:38-42 we are told the story:

"Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village.  And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.  And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching.  But Martha was distracted with much serving.  And she went up to him and said, 'Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?  Tell her then to help me.'  But the Lord answered her, 'Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary.  Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.'"

My grandma had a knack for hospitality.  She made everything beautiful and all food delicious (even when she snuck healthy things in there—which was always).  Serving was important to her—but she always remembered why and who she was serving.  My grandma was a lifelong learner.  She's the kind of person who learned to play the violin in her 60's.  Read atlases and encyclopedias to understand more.  She would look up the baseball scores both to learn new information and to be able to connect with someone over it.  She was always about connection—about meeting and caring for new people.  I love to look and see that she embodied the good parts of both Martha and Mary.  My grandma had the biggest servant's heart, but she always knew how to sit at the feet of Jesus.  Wanting to know more—hungry for new parts of His life lessons.  I also see links between my Grandma and Jesus' mother, Mary, found in Luke 2:19:

 "But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart."

 My grandma was both a "treasurer" and a "ponderer".  Her memory is unmatched by anyone I have met and her ability to capture details is astounding.  She journaled every day.  There are stacks and stacks full of journals holding details of the life my grandpa and grandma built together.  There are shelves upon shelves of binders labeled with grandchildren's names.  She treasured and captured every moment.  And what an amazing gift of story and testimony she left behind.  When I think of her I think of faith, loyalty, and hard work.  All of these things I both witnessed in my grandma and read about in the book of Ruth. 

 "But Ruth said, 'Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you.  For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge.  Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.  Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried.  May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.'  And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more."  1:16-18

 My grandma was faithful.  I would say that she is the most forgiving person I know—but the absolutely amazing thing about her was I never remember her expressing there was ever a reason to forgive in the first place.  She had the ability to love people always—through anything.  If she was truly mad at someone I never knew it, because she kept on loving them the way that she always had.  She was the most determined lady at connecting with people, and when she made that connection she never let it go.  Just like Naomi realized with Ruth there was no point in arguing the issue because my grandma was determined.  Determined to live and love with any and all people that would open their hearts to her—and even the people who wouldn't.  I see Ruth's determination and ability to love in my grandma's legacy, but I also see a parallel in how well she was loved.  In Ruth 3:10-13 Boaz says about her:

 "And he said, 'May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter.  You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich.  And now, my daughter, do not fear.  I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman.  And now it is true that I am a redeemer.  Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I.  Remain tonight and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good; let him do it.  But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the Lord lives, I will redeem you.  Lie down until the morning."

My grandpa always saw himself as the one who won over Ann.  His beauty, his bride.  My grandparents met and married within 9 months.  My grandma was definitely a Ruth, and she found her Boaz.  It says in verse 18:

"She (Naomi) replied, 'Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest but will settle the matter today."

My grandpa wanted to settle the matter and marry his Ann as soon as he could.  I never went a day wondering if my grandpa was proud of his beautiful bride or if my grandma felt loved and protected.  They loved each other well—provided for, laughed with, and complimented one another.  A family friend reminded me that while she always had big expressive eyes, my grandpa has always had a twinkle in his eye—what a couple to surround yourself with.  What a life and a love to live. 

 I also see my grandma in the way that my mom loves.  The way that she comforts through her own breaking and aching heart.  I see my grandma in the way we grew up with my mom reading to us.  I see them both by reaching into my jacket pocket (after they borrow it) and pulling out a left behind (sometimes used) Kleenex, "just in case".  My grandma raised an amazing woman, who has loved me and cared for me well.  When life throws you a curve ball and you can choose to laugh or cry about it I grew up surrounded by two women strong enough to laugh.  What a legacy the Lord has built.

 I see echoes of Martha, the Mary's, and Ruth in my grandma.  I see echoes of Boaz in my grandpa.  And I even see beautiful echoes of my grandma in my mom.  But the real truth is it's not about the women or men.  It's that they are all echoing Jesus.  They are chasing after Him with their whole hearts and they start to fall in line with who He is.  It's a legacy of His faithfulness because it’s a legacy of Him.  He fills us with His Spirit.  He bears fruit in and through us.  I am so thankful that God created and is creating His legacy through His children—and today I rejoice in knowing that my Grandma is a part of that legacy.  I want to be like her, because she was like Jesus. 

 Now I know she’s either dancing the Charleston with Jesus, or parked next to Him asking all of the questions that have been building through a lifetime of curiosity.  I love you forever, grandma.  See you soon.