Grandma’s Wisdom

I am blessed to have a wonderfully close relationship with my Grandma. Just like Timothy had Lois, I have been brought up in the sincere faith of my Grandma. Over the past few months, she has brought up a story that I want to share with you.

My Grandma has a good friend, Barbara. Barbara and Grandma have been friends for most of their adult life. The have gone to church together for over 50 years. Barbara is bubbly and kind. I cannot help but smile when I see her. She always has plenty of hugs and kisses for the people around her. Barbara has no problem showing love. When Grandma and Barbara were my age and raising kids, it appeared to Grandma that Barbara had a flaw. She didn’t keep her house in perfect order. Barbara did not keep a disgusting house, but it wasn’t immaculate. My Grandma has always taken great pride in keeping an impeccable house. She is a driven person, always motivated to be busy and keeping house always fell into the important category. Barbara and Grandma shared a deep love for God, but had different priorities.

Fast forward to today, Grandma is telling me how she wishes she had been more like Barbara. Barbara’s philosophy was that she would always have a house to clean, but while she had kids she was going to play with them. In my Grandma’s current view, what she perceived at the time to be a flaw in Barbara, she now sees as greatness. It is amazing to see how time can change one’s view. Of all the wisdom my Grandma could impart to me, this principle is the one on which she chooses to focus. In hindsight, she wishes she would have let some of the perfection go in place of spending time with her kids. Uh-oh, I’m starting to think Grandma sees this tendency in me. No, I’m not overly concerned with my house, but I am quite driven in other areas. We share a love for busyness.

As I was thinking about this story today, a familiar story from the Bible popped into my mind, the story of Mary washing Jesus’ feet. Think about Mary’s priorities. She gave what was most precious to the Lord. I’m sure you remember that while she is worshipping Christ, Judas brings up selling the ointment for the poor. The Lord’s response is striking, “the poor ye have with you; but me ye have not always”. I can’t explain why, but the thought struck me, “cleaning I have always, but my children I have not always.” I realize that my children are not as precious as Christ, but they are the heritage He has given me while I am on earth. I will not have my children in my house forever. They are in my home for a relatively short period of time. Our time together is a gift. As their mother I am to care for them, love them, and raise them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Am I doing as Mary and giving them my best? Or am I giving my energy to all the things around them, the things I think have to get done?

I don’t want those who read this story to think my Grandma is an over the top Martha. She is not. She may feel that way but I have never had that opinion of her. She has always been warm, kind, and loving towards me. However, I would be foolish not to heed the words of my Grandma. In sharing her wisdom with me, she is obeying God’s Word by “teaching the younger women”.

I do not think we should be extreme and let our house get filthy and stop everything to focus solely on our children. An attitude like that would go against the things we learn about the virtuous woman. She was one of the busiest women in the Bible. I am suggesting that as mothers we stop and think about our children as a precious gift; one that will be gone before we know it. It’s hard to be like Mary, because to live like Mary means to sacrifice. Our sacrifice for our children will not be wasted. I believe that loving our children wholeheartedly will honor the Lord.

I am grateful for a Grandma who continues to give me her best!