In honor of grandmother’s faith
2 Timothy: 1:5
In the year of our Lord 2021, July 24, on a sunny Friday morning, Betty Allen completed her work in this life and entered into her Heavenly rewards.
She was my grandmother, and I would like to share the impact of her faith with you. Mamaw Betty was a woman of genuine faith.
I could recount her church attendance, support of her husband’s pastoral ministries, or countless visitations to illustrate her faithfulness. Though, I’m not so sure those are the most important of her works.
As I peer through the years past, I see a woman calling family, opening her home, preparing massive meals, and ensuring her loved ones had a place and time to be together.
For a family numbering in the dozens, dispersed across near-countless miles and distractions, Betty Allen was the unifying force that drew us all together. So many memories of love, laughter, and family fellowship are the direct result of the work of this one woman.
As her health declined, the gatherings ceased. Whose house would we all meet at?
Who would prepare all the food?
What time would work for everyone?
Questions that would remain unanswered, and a family that would remain distant. That is, until this woman we all loved so dearly told us goodnight, and made her departure.
For the first time in a long time, we were all under one roof again. Retelling stories, reliving memories, laughing, loving, and living like we had so many times before. We’ve committed to ensuring more regular reunions. You see, I was wrong when I wrote above that she had completed her work.
Betty Allen is still working. The genuine faith with which she loved her family has passed down the lines, and lives in each of our hearts now.
The conclusion I want to leave you with is three-fold:
• First of all, make the time to take an inventory of your heart. See exactly what gifts you’ve inherited from the genuine faith of another, and honor them by putting those gifts to good use.
• Secondly, never overlook the importance of unity. In a world of such division, there is little more valuable than simply gathering with loved ones, to live, laugh, and love as one.
• Finally: Rest assured, dear reader, that this feeble attempt to honor my grandmother’s life falls woefully short of her genuine faith.