Woman of Faith

I live just 20 minutes from each of my grandmas - something that I've never experienced until this past year. My Grandmom on my dad's side has had some health problems lately - she has been hospitalized twice in the last couple of weeks. It's sad to see her health and mind failing, though she knows the Lord, and she knows where her hope lies and what happens after death. Several months ago she told me "don't weep one tear when I die!" She looks forward to being reunited with her husband, who passed away 16 years ago (she still refuses to take off her wedding band and speaks of how she misses him). Ultimately, she looks forward to being with the Lord!

There is a person who comes by her nursing home once a week to read the Bible to the residents. I asked my Grandmom about this the other day, and she said, "Oh we just finished Numbers." I can't tell you the last time I read the book of Numbers. I picked up her Bible and saw that Numbers is full of the Old Testament laws. I told her that, and she replied, "But there are all sorts of good stories in there too."

I offered to read her a passage from her Bible, and she asked for Psalm 73. She said it popped to her mind for some reason. It is about the vindication of God, and toward the end it says:

Psalm 73:25-26
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.

I realized that this describes this woman who has lived for 86 years, spending more than half of her life serving as a missionary or in ministry. Being a pastor's wife/missionary was her calling. And now, after all those years, she exemplifies grace and portrays the fruits of the spirit. Although her flesh and heart and mind fail, she always has a good word to say, and she knows that her treasures are in Heaven.

She's still living on this earth but longing for the eternal. What an amazing woman!