Tuesday, November 11, 2014

The Passing

Beautiful Grandma Eva
Today is a sad day in our household.  I suppose it is strange to be sharing anything about a personal loss with all of you, but tonight, because she was one of our particular tribe, I think it is appropriate.  

Today we lost Grandma Eva.

Some of you will remember my sharing about The Husband's precious grandma.  Ninety-six years of love and grace and blessing.  I'm sorry that I only knew her for 15 of those years.  She was a delight.

Grandmothers are special people.  I don't have any grandmas by blood anymore.  I lost my father's mother when I was just a child - around 6 years old as I recall.  We were visiting when it happened.  I was hastened into the next room when, in the blink of an eye, she was gone.  Then, many years later but several years ago, my maternal grandmother passed, although the grandma I knew had been gone for some time.  But when The Husband and I married, I gained two grandmothers-in-love.  Love indeed.


Grandma Eva, this beloved, petite, wisp of a woman was stronger than you could imagine.  She knew the heartbreak of the loss of a child and the loss of a husband.  She knew the joy of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  And she knew the joy of knitting.  To many it may sound silly, but you...I know you all know exactly what I'm talking about.  

That got me to thinking...

While we are mourning her passing from this life into eternity, I realized there has been another passing.  A passing on of all that she was to those who knew and loved her.  And that was a lot to pass on.  Our lives are all richer, fuller, more complete because Grandma poured herself into us and into everyone she encountered, even strangers.




Grandma volunteered at the local hospital for 25 years.  And her craft?  She didn't keep it to herself.  In fact, I can't remember seeing her work on a project that she didn't give away.  I think of all the love she spread in the form of yarn:  decades of newborn babies whose little heads were covered with her love in the shape of a hat or a blanket; aged knees warmed by the product of hands that over the years became aged themselves - a bit stiff, but still determined to share.   She was still knitting a few weeks ago.  

Knitting was a part of her.

Until a few years ago, I wouldn't have understood.  But I do now.  And I hope and I pray that I continue the tradition.   Here's to you, Grandma Eva.  I love you.  I will miss you dreadfully.  And I hope to make you proud.

Lisa 

xoxo

7 comments:

  1. thank you for this beautiful tribute to grandma gray Lisa. You are a gift from God to our family. I will miss my mother forever, I could only hope to be as good a person as she was. she hardly ever said a bad thing about anyone...even when people were not the nicest to her. I wish her last 4 months of her life could have been more pleasant...but we did what we thought was best for her...I was there where she was ever single day in the 4 months she spent at the nursing home and the assisted living. took her for rides (mostly to the cemetery to see my dad's grave)..and to my aunt Dolores' home...the place where she and my dad spent their dating years..the farm. I am so glad you took up knitting before she passed..she was so proud of what you have accomplished and made a point of telling people about her granddaughter in law the accomplished knitter..Love you. mom cindy

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  2. You can think of her with every stitch. Lovely tribute. Thank you for sharing and so sorry for your loss.

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  3. Many sympathies to you at this sad time. What a lovely tribute to her. xxx

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  4. Oh Lisa, I'm so sorry about your husband's grandmother. She sounds like she was an amazing person who has left behind quite a legacy.

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  5. Your words on passing and passing on are beautiful. I'm very sorry for your loss. I hope you are comforted by knowing all you have gained by having known her. Best wishes.

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  6. Lisa Thank you for a beautiful tribute to a wonderful woman.

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  7. That's such a beautiful tribute to what sounds like a much loved Grandma. I'm sorry for your husband and your family's loss.

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