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.
Yes, the word generous goes hand in hand with Gramma Rita. Only a very generous person could adopt a whole family and make them feel like they belonged. I could come up with a list as long as yours, but I will share just one today. We had just moved here and as anyone just out of school, money was very tight. She knew that I needed and wanted some shelving for some food storage. Not only did she buy all of the supplies for two closets, but she came and put them together. When I asked how much I owed her, she of course would not let me give her a dime. Generous! (and by the way, I have missed your posts)
ReplyDeleteActually, it's interesting that you would choose generosity as a topic for this week. One of my new friends here in Oklahoma lost her grandmother last week and her family has been going through a bit of a financial rough patch. I was talking with another friend and we decided the best thing we could do was put a little money in an envelope to help with travel and food expenses. That led to a discussion of mom and her money in the envelope. How grateful I am for a mother who taught us all by example the importance of helping out wherever we can. I have found that when I am generous, I am more blessed. Glad you are back to posting...I have missed your memories and being able to share a few of my own. Love ya!
ReplyDeleteForgive me if I've already shared this with you.
ReplyDeleteI forget which child I had just had, but I'm guessing it was in 1994 or 1995, and your Mom dropped by my house (and we live out of town, so it was not on her way to anywhere else). She had a plate of divinity that she had made herself and brought it to us to help us celebrate the birth of our child.
She was not my visiting teacher nor did we work together at church (and I don't think we ever had, though I had been Holly's Merrie Miss teacher). My mom (who is not a member of our church) was very impressed and to this day if I mention Rita to my mom I'll say, "Remember she was the one who brought divinity to us" and my mom knows who Rita is.
I have been on the receiving end of a few cars and quite a few envelopes. I remember many phone conversations that ended with, "Now, Dana, you know that you can call me if you need anything...right?"
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazingly generous woman!