a prized possession

i was only 6 when my grandmother, my mother's mother, passed away.  it was only 3 years later that we lost my grandfather.  but despite knowing them for only a short time, they both had a huge impact on my life, and i consider them two of the greatest people i have ever met.  of course having them still here would be amazing, but knowing them for the time i did was such a blessing and their memory still helps guide me through life and strive to be the best i can be.

i have such fond memories of staying with them in the summers.  they lived a modest life, but had so much love in their home.  i just remember when i was there, all i felt was joy and happiness and complete comfort.  there weren't really a ton of toys to play with.  but i could sit for hours playing with my grandmas extensive jewelry collection.  extravagant beaded and bejeweled necklaces with matching clip on earrings.  clip on earrings!  a five-year-olds dream!!

and there weren't any other kids in the neighborhood, just the sweet old neighbors across the street with the big fat yellow cat named morris.  kris and i would visit and mrs. kersey would treat us to a piece of fresh baked blueberry pie.  mr. kersey was always in the living room watching sports of some kind.  after our piece of pie, kris would usually go back to grandma and grandpas knowing that she had stayed her welcome.  i on the other hand would usually stay for another piece of pie!

on my 5th birthday, my grandma gave me a bible.  it is my most prized possession and has been with me where ever i go. inside the bible, she wrote a passage that i love: "I know that where I go is God. Since this is so, no place could safer be than where I am."  just holding my bible, reading this passage, seeing my grandma's handwriting brings me comfort.

it's hard to define exactly what made my grandparents so special to me.  i was too young to understand the qualities they had that i could appreciate later in life. . .honesty, integrity, reliability.  but i guess you don't have to be very old to appreciate kindness, patience and love. and so it is when i'm going through difficult times in life, i think about them.  i think about how they made me feel - safe, happy, comforted.  and somehow, i know they are looking down on me and still helping to protect me.  and i feel peace.
i know my sister shares all of these same memories with me and is going through a difficult time.  and so, kris, i encourage you to look to them for comfort.  you did the right thing.  i hope you find peace in your decision.  i love you.

ps - i'm sorry i made you cry again, as i'm sure this did. i cried too. but a good cry can be cleansing.  so we should both be good and cleansed!