My Dear Friends,
Woman By The Grace of God began quite a few years ago as an outlet for keeping up with the antics of our principessa and sharing such with loved ones. It then shifted toward book reviews, which I thoroughly enjoy, but I have intended for a while to add other content as well. Thursday evening my mamaw suddenly passed from this earth into the arms of the Lord. This is my tribute to her. I share it here to honor her. May those of us left behind be comforted until the day we meet again in Glory.
When asked if I was interested in sharing at Mamaw’s funeral, my no was immediate. I talk a lot, but I am much better at doing something so delicate and respectful as memorializing my dear grandmother in writing. So I opened my iPad to start writing and happened to see my review of a book called The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip. Quick backstory: cub reporter Aidyn gets too big for her britches and her editor needs to put her in her place, so Aidyn is tasked with writing the obituary of some random old lady in a hospice house. Roll with me, y’all; I’m going somewhere with this.
Like any well written story, there’s a lot going on under the surface. Clara Kip is not just a random old lady. She has lived an extraordinary life because of the way God used her, but the thought of allowing cancer to steal her life in a slow and un-extraordinary way chafes. She decides that she will answer three of Aidyn’s questions about her life for every extraordinary death Aidyn can think of to spice up her obituary. The truth of Mrs. Kip’s life experiences and lessons write themselves into a phenomenal tribute to the woman.
To my knowledge, Lois Holland did not necessarily live an extraordinary life. She was a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a child of God. What she did extraordinarily, was love. I realize I am one of many arrows in her quiver. Her four children had children who had children and I don’t even know if I could count us all if I tried. But when she talked with me I felt like I was treasured. When she spent time with me, I knew I was her pride and joy, and I guarantee that every one who had the honor to know and love her could say the same. The immediate thought is that I must be talking only about her family and close friends. I’m not. I’ll never forget coming to Indianapolis to celebrate Mamaw’s and Papaw’s 50th wedding anniversary and meeting more people from their church than I can count, every one of them honored to know them, and I understand completely.
Several years ago now, I was in Indy with my momma and daughter, and Mamaw was able to go on some museum adventures. We had a day when we went to the Indiana State Museum and took our time exploring exhibits. At some point in the day she learned that I like Greek food, so she insisted on taking us to a Greek restaurant she had heard was quite good. I don’t remember the food, but I remember sitting at the table with her and my eight year old daughter, having an extraordinary lunch. Then she mentioned being curious about the Mexican bakery near her house, so we went on an adventure to find some delightful south-of-the-border desserts. It was not a bakery, but we did find a couple sweet treats and some stick on mustaches. On another day, we went for a drive to South Bend to check out a children’s museum and she was delighted to choose Fazzoli’s for lunch with her girls. As I tell you all of this, I know you are hearing about us going and doing specific things, experiencing specific events. What I am feeling the same extraordinary warmth we felt when we were with her. The engagement of simply abiding in the great love of Christ that radiated from her.
And an extraordinary death? I pray that if I can’t slip quietly and unexpectedly into the Father’s arms, I can go as she did, just after family dinner with loved ones and in a way that allowed her to be unaware of the pain. Extraordinarily loving and extraordinarily loved. My heart hurts with missing her, but thrills for the Lord’s extraordinary mercy in calling her Home.
