Monday, July 10, 2023
Memories/thoughts about Grandma Honey from Andy:
Looking back all of my years, Grandma Honey has been someone who exemplified a life of service to others and thankfulness to God. Not only that, but she modeled those qualities while also teaching her family how to walk in that path.
I have always been in awe of her life experiences - living through the great depression and WWII. Frequently, I think about stories that Grandma told me about how life was growing up without all of the luxuries that we have today, and yet, how they were thankful to God for all of their blessings.
Being with grandma was always a treat. She made sure that all of our needs were met when we visited - great meals, cranberry juice, ginger ale, rootbeer floats, pudding pops and the drawer in the bathroom with all of the grandkids’ toothbrushes for when we slept over. She was in constant motion - in fact, It is difficult to remember a time when she ever sat down. I recall visiting grandma and grandpa in Alabama when I was 19 yrs old and she was always working on a meal or providing me with something to snack on or drink. I used to tell her that I was “fine” or I didn’t need anything, but I realized that she was showing love by serving and thinking of others’ needs above her own. Another great example of how she was thinking about helping others, is when my family visited Alabama when I was 11 years old and I decided that I was old enough to pack my own suitcase… well, when we arrived in Gulf Shores, I discovered that I had forgotten to pack my underwear. Alas, it was no problem because Grandma Honey went to her storage closet and emerged with a brand new package of boys underwear that she had found a good deal on at a local store in Alabama. She was always thinking of others!
Throughout my life, I can recall all of the ways in which Grandma taught us to live. She read us stories from the Bible, taught us to pray daily, wash our hands, blow out candles with a magazine/newspaper (way before a pandemic!), she would give us money to put in the offering at church, she showed what a joy it was to work and to serve others. When I get out of my car I often think of when she would visit and pick up sticks across the yard before getting to the door. She often spoke of angels and God’s protection. She was so thankful for her family and what a blessing to live near them.
Over the last decade of visiting Grandma Honey at Oak Meadows, I have many wonderful memories of praying with grandma at meals, playing piano for her and especially playing her favorite song, “In the Garden”. She would sing along and even clap after I finished! (not bad for a Lutheran!). When I became a church organist, grandma enjoyed sitting behind the organ and watching my feet while i played…..today I am going to play extra notes with my feet!
Julie and I would love it when we got a big smile or laugh from grandma in her apartment, Like most recently, when my hair was really long and she was wondering when I was going to get a haircut….. I jokingly told her I was saving money on haircuts! Or, in May of this year, when Julie asked her how much her hair appointment cost and she shrugged her shoulders and said, “I don’t know,....I charged it!” and then she let out a joyous laugh! Our stomachs hurt from laughing after that.
Lastly, I recall a profound memory in April of 2002, the month before grandpa died. I attended worship at St. Mark’s with grandma. Many of their friends/congregation were talking with grandma with comforting words in regards to grandpa being in hospice. Grandma responded with, “We have had wonderful lives and we are so thankful to God”. - Grandma showed me in that moment how to live a life of thankfulness during life’s most difficult moments.
For the past few years at Oak Meadows many of us can recall Grandma’s parting words when we said goodbye. She would say in a sincere voice, “Have a nice life”. I heard her say it about every time I said goodbye. I have had a grandma who lived a life that honored God by loving and serving others. I hope to honor her by doing the same.
