My Good and Faithful Grandma
Grandma entered into glory last night soon after the last family member had said their goodbye. As old as she was, her homecoming was sudden. She would have been traveling the east coast with her sister this week. She lived independently and fully up until the last week and half of her life. I could attempt to process this loss by writing down the qualities and memories I love most about Grandma. But as I told her during my goodbye, they are too numerous and invaluable for words. I'm sure I will slowly and gradually process her blessings as life goes on and acknowledge them in upcoming life events, difficulties, and ordinary moments.
This past weekend, the entire Bender family gathered together to say goodbye. Dad lead the devotion and prayer. He marked his mother, in remembrance of her baptism, with a cross on her forehead and on her heart, "marked as one redeemed by Christ crucified." Grandma was non-responsive, but Lydia saw her eyebrows move up when Dad placed the cross on her forehead.
The family then confessed the Apostle's Creed for Grandma, as a congregation had done for her 87 years ago on her baptism. After we confessed the Apostle's Creed, we went up, one by one, and marked the cross on her forehead while saying, "Jesus loves you, and so do I." This was Grandma's habitual goodbye. Every phone call and hug ended with her saying, "Jesus loves you, and so do I." We gathered in a circle and sang the two hymns she picked out for her funeral, one of which is my favorite hymn - "When Peace Like a River."
As a newborn, she received her home when the holy waters of baptism poured over her head. The newborns she held during their own baptisms, sent her home in remembrance of her baptismal promise. Well done, good and faithful servant.
Her children and grandchildren, the very people she raised in faith and under His love, confessed the faith on her behalf when her voice could not. Well done, good and faithful servant.
The hands she nurtured, disciplined, and loved, physically marked the remembrance of her redemption in Christ Jesus on her passing body. Well done, good and faithful servant.
Her family, blessed by her daily and ritual remembrance of His love, reciprocated the simple, yet life-changing truth: "Jesus loves you, and so do I." Well done, good and faithful servant.
Her grieving and heart-broken children praised the Lord in song, singing, "Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, let this blest assurance control: that Christ has regarded my helpless estate, and has shed his own blood for my soul. It is well with my soul. It is well with my soul." Well done, good and faithful servant.
This past weekend, the entire Bender family gathered together to say goodbye. Dad lead the devotion and prayer. He marked his mother, in remembrance of her baptism, with a cross on her forehead and on her heart, "marked as one redeemed by Christ crucified." Grandma was non-responsive, but Lydia saw her eyebrows move up when Dad placed the cross on her forehead.
The family then confessed the Apostle's Creed for Grandma, as a congregation had done for her 87 years ago on her baptism. After we confessed the Apostle's Creed, we went up, one by one, and marked the cross on her forehead while saying, "Jesus loves you, and so do I." This was Grandma's habitual goodbye. Every phone call and hug ended with her saying, "Jesus loves you, and so do I." We gathered in a circle and sang the two hymns she picked out for her funeral, one of which is my favorite hymn - "When Peace Like a River."
Our family's goodbye was a testament to my grandmother's faith and love she nurtured within her life.
As a newborn, she received her home when the holy waters of baptism poured over her head. The newborns she held during their own baptisms, sent her home in remembrance of her baptismal promise. Well done, good and faithful servant.
Her children and grandchildren, the very people she raised in faith and under His love, confessed the faith on her behalf when her voice could not. Well done, good and faithful servant.
The hands she nurtured, disciplined, and loved, physically marked the remembrance of her redemption in Christ Jesus on her passing body. Well done, good and faithful servant.
Her family, blessed by her daily and ritual remembrance of His love, reciprocated the simple, yet life-changing truth: "Jesus loves you, and so do I." Well done, good and faithful servant.
Her grieving and heart-broken children praised the Lord in song, singing, "Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, let this blest assurance control: that Christ has regarded my helpless estate, and has shed his own blood for my soul. It is well with my soul. It is well with my soul." Well done, good and faithful servant.
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