This one is for the grandmothers. Mine, particularly, but also, all grandmothers everywhere. And any random sisters that happen to be living somewhere equally random like, say, Oklahoma. Or wherever. Ahem.
For those who don't know the inner workings of my life, the woman in the video is my husband's grandmother, Nan. Nan is an interesting human being. She loves my children very much, and she loves Lee and I, as well. She is the widow of Pap, the "George" that Elijah was named after. Pap was funny and irresponsible, Nan was the "straight man" of the duo who kept her partner in line. She was 16 when she married Pap, and they stayed together despite many of the hurdles of a life-long marriage. At different times she locked Pap out of the house because he was drunk, charged him $10 per aspirin for a hangover, refused to speak for him for days, and even left for a motel for a week until something changed. Through all that, she loved her husband with her life and was completely broken when he died. Nan can be very hard to get along with, but Lee and I are committed to spending time with her, and we have been blessed in many ways because of it. Sometimes I get very mad at her, but at the same time, she is one of the most important people in my life. She says things that hurt and are hard to hear, yet she would empty her bank account to buy new winter coats for my kids and even me if she thinks we need it.
Nan is not a believer, nor even a very happy person, and I ask God for ways to reach her that might mean something to her, and in the day to day I just do my best to be Jesus to her. Yet instead I find myself more blessed by her, because you truly can't outgive God. He reaches out to me from all corners, showing love from all sources, shining light from all the shadows. Anytime in life that I have arrogantly set out to try and bless someone through myself, I always find myself humbled and more blessed back. God is funny that way.
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