Thursday, June 22, 2006

The hand of "Grace"




It really is.... the hand of Grace, my Grandmother, Grace. It is also the hand of God's grace, showing "the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus." Eph. 2:7 Grandma Grace is 93 years old and her life has changed dramatically in the last year, from married, independent, living on the farm to being a widow again and now living in a skilled care nursing home.

She has now become one of the many who sit in their wheelchairs in halls or lobbies of nursing homes sleeping, waiting. I never wanted that for her. But, when she sees me, smiles and says, "Well, Brenda. How nice to see you!", I rejoice that she remembers my name. I am so grateful to God for giving us more time with her. She is living beyond what was expected by the doctors - it is in God's time. We speak mostly of the past - her past. Although she does ask about the family. But, I'm not sure if she remembers who they are. I cherish my time with her.
I have so many memories of spending time with her. Staying overnight while in grade school and sleeping in a tent with her step-daughter, chasing cows in her field, eating hot oatmeal, hearing her say, "Brenda! You've never made homemade bread?!!", having coffee in the farmhouse kitchen and her open invitations to stay for dinner.

Her fingernails are now polished and beautiful. I'm not sure that she ever had that in years past. Now someone does it for her, no more garden dirt under them. Just idle hands waiting... waiting for God's timing.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful tribute to your grandmother.

Anonymous said...

Dear daughter, I took time today to go on your blog and was so thrilled to read all you wrote and was filled with thanksgiving in having such a wonderful, caring, loving daughter. The Lord has truly blessed me. I too look back on my life. More often the older I get and see things or circumstances that I could have handled in a more patient loving way. Yesterday in Bible Study we talked about an all knowing God and how we would change certain ways or what we say about others if we would always remember that. I told them that through it all we have a very forgiving Lord who loves us inspite of our shortcomings. There is so much more I would like to write and will try tomorrow to do so, the day before my surgery. God is in control. Love, Mom

Guus said...

Mijn naam is Guus de Kok.
Mijn opa was Jacob de Kok broer van Jacoba de Boer de Kok.
Is dat jour grandmother?

Guus said...

Guus de Kok en zijn vrouw Jacomina de Kok Baaijens wonen in Eindhoven Nederland.Mijn ouders zijn geboren in Nieuwdorp Zeeland ook Jacomien is daar geboren.De zuster van mijn opa is naar Amerika vertrokken met haar man Jacob de Boer en de kinderen.
Commentaar kan in het Engels.Ik heb alleen problemen met het typen in het Engels.
Groeten Guus.