I have read a book called "Why Not Women?" written by Loren
Cunningham and David Joel Hamilton. The chapter began with a
reference in 2 Timothy where Paul reminds Timothy of the faith of his
grandmother Lois, and his mother Eunice. That got me to thinking
about my own grandma, and how she constantly prayed for her family,
including me. Most Christians in my generation or age group had/has
one~ a prayin' grandma. I remember when I was not yet in my teens,
Grandma was setting before me the pattern to follow: prayer. I
remember her saying about a very sick relative who lived in another
state, "I can't do anything for them but pray-the Lord will heal them
according to His will."
What I learned from my grandmother, mostly in my teenage years, was
how to pray with humility and sincerity~just me and God. I learned
patience and trust by watching and listening to her talk about her
answered prayers. I learned sympathy by seeing her cry when others
were in pain. And I learned that if I didn't have anything good to say
about anyone to keep my mouth shut. In retrospect, I am realizing what
a giant pillar she was in my Christian foundation. She showed me how
to love, how to live, and how to conduct myself in my Christian walk. I
am realizing she was a warrior, a fighter for the cause of God and a
great believer in her Jesus~her Savior and Redeemer.
Just as Paul told Timothy to remember the 'unfeigned faith' and to 'stir up the gift of God', that is what the Holy Spirit did for
me last night. I have been reminded of the unhindered love she showed me growing up. I have the secure knowledge that she
said many prayers for me; she travailed for my birth into the family of God.
There have been times in my life when I have been called 'determined' or 'persevering' and I always attributed it to my
independence. (Being born on Independence Day seems to ingrain the word, as well as the attitude, into a person.) No one
ever told me that that was what we as Christians were supposed to do. Paul says that when we've done all we can, to stand.
Is that not determination~to not let the enemy knock us down, even when we can't see the next step? My grandmother lived
it in front of me, and showed it to me in every aspect of her life. No wonder I felt such a loss when she died. Only now, ten
years later, do I know the full extent of why. She was, and still is really, my silent but strong fortress. I see that the path that
God has had me walk for the past several years, she gave me the training for. Early in my Christian life, I would not have been
able to 'stand' had I not seen her do it in my younger years.
I would hope she would look down as part of that great cloud of witnesses and see the spiri