Memory Monday #13

The practice song in Relief Society today was "Each Life That Touches Ours for Good." I haven't heard or sung that song since Grandma's funeral and I was totally caught off-guard. After they announced it, I sat there wondering if I should sing, leave, ignore...I finally just tried to sing, but was so overcome with emotion that by the end, I had to leave anyway. I want to share the words of the song here because they are so fitting to our Grandma and the way she lived her life.

Each life that touches ours for good

Reflects thine own great mercy, Lord;

Thou sendest blessings from above

Thru words and deeds of those who love.

What greater gift dost thou bestow,

What greater goodness can we know

Than Christlike friends, whose gentle ways

Strengthen our faith, enrich our days.

When such a friend from us departs,

We hold forever in our hearts

A sweet and hallowed memory,

Bringing us nearer, Lord, to thee.

For worthy friends whose lives proclaim

Devotion to the Savior's name

Who bless our days with peace and love,

We praise thy goodness, Lord, above.

What can I say more? I believe that Karen Lynn Davidson could very well have written this song just for Grandma. May we each live our lives to be the kind of friend Grandma was, to bless others' lives, to enrich others' days, to be devoted to our Savior.

The scripture that is listed with this song is D&C 42:45-46. I especially like verse 46: "And it shall come to pass that those that die in me shall not taste of death, for it shall be sweet unto them."

I believe that death was sweet for Grandma, for she was a righteous and devoted follower of Christ. I am grateful for this knowledge and promise. I am grateful for the example that Grandma left for us.

Memory Monday #12

Generous. Grandma is one of the most generous people I have ever known. Her children have learned well...but that is another topic for another day. I'm sure that every person who reads this post will have some story to add about how generous Grandma has been to them...actually, you will each probably have a number of stories, but one will suffice.

Grandma was especially generous with her grandkids. Some might say that she bordered on spoiling them. I suppose that if she did, it was her earned right. I certainly wasn't ever going to complain. I know Jeron and Jadee revelled in her generosity. They knew they could go to her with their hearts' desires and she would always do what she could to grant them. It should be noted that "do what she could" sometimes meant giving jobs for them to earn the money themselves or matching what they already had. You see, she was a great teacher of ownership and responsibility, too.

I was reminded last week of Grandma's generosity during a conversation I had with Jeron. I was talking to Jeron and Jadee about Patti and explaining her role in our family. Jeron thought for a moment and then said, "I sure hope that she's as nice as our Grandma. And if I recall correctly, whenever I went to the store with Grandma, we always went to the toy aisle and she let me pick out a toy." Our Grandma certainly is nice. And, she's generous, too.

Lest you think that her generosity stopped at spoiling the grandkids, I have come up with a little list, in no particular order, of other things she regularly did:

1. generously tipped food service people...especially young moms

2. put money in envelopes for more people than we are aware of

3. worked to put her kids through college and on missions

4. sent cards with money for all holidays to anyone she thought might need a little extra, mostly her children

5. paid bills for people who couldn't pay them for themselves

6. donated all kinds of household goods to charitable organizations

7. bought Christmas for many families over many years

8. gave away washers and dryers and furniture and cars to children who were just getting started, or were otherwise in need

9. let Grandpa spend a lot of money on a motorcycle because she knew it would bring him happiness

10. she was most generous with her time...she spent as much time as she could with her grandkids, helping out their parents when they had other things they needed or wanted to do

11. always invited people for Sunday and holiday dinners, including her children (I must say here that I spent a lot less money on food when we lived 2 miles from Grandma(0:)

12. how many times have each of us heard, "If you need some help, you just need to tell me."

13. she shared her many talents with many willing recipients

14.

So, all you readers of this little blog...please fill in #14 in the comments section. The longer I sit, the longer the list would be...but I will save some for you.