Way back in 44 B.C. the Ides of March (March 15th) was a day that took a great leader, Julius Caesar. Today it claimed the life of another less known but more important (in my life) leader. My grandmother Gloria Dineen has passed away from pneumonia this morning around 9am. She was the matriarchal leader of the family on my mothers side. Her loss has impacted many people and I feel the need to just write about this beautiful woman of God.
When I was kicked out of my father's house in tenth grade I went to live with my mother who resided at my grandparents place. Grandma immediately impacted my life in many ways. She was loving, caring, sweet, smart, and most of all religious.
Loving- Grandma would open her house to anyone who needed a place to stay. At the time when I needed a place to stay there were already seven people living in that small trailer. Though it sounds like it would be a tight fit there seemed to be more space than anyone could need and Grandma's love made that small space feel like a true home. There were always visitors and she made sure everyone was treated with love and respect when they walked in the door. It meant so much to me that she would welcome me, a tough teenage boy with many issues, into her house and never complain that I was trouble and never once made me feel that I was unwanted.
Caring- One image that will always stick in my head is seeing Grandma with her plastic bag full of yarn and a partially done blanket. As soon as she heard someone was having a baby, was in need of some warmth, or falling ill near the end of their lives she was quick to get a blanket started. She was so focused on getting them done that it seemed like as soon as she finished one there was another in the wings. She was always so happy with those hooks in her hands. She was so patient as well that she even took the time out of her day to teach me how to do it as well. Though I never could do the magic that she could I was always just so happy to try. As odd as it may sound that crochet impacted a teenage boy, just watching her spread her love to others via something her hands made had a profound impact on my life.
Sweet- Many memories pop into my mind when I recall my grandma but one that sticks out is how she used to let my grandpa get scratch tickets. Grandma was always the holder of money between the 2 of them so when we would have to stop and get gas in the van he would have to get the money from her. She would always give him a twenty and he would get out and put gas in the van. Most of the time he would only put eighteen dollars in and use the little bit left to get a lottery ticket. She knew he did that but acted like she didn't know and would allow him to get them. It would make me smile because my grandfather thought he was doing it secretly but she knew full well and had even said so on a few occasions and yet never got mad at him. In the few years I spent living in that house I can't recall a time seeing my grandma angry. Even when Thanksgiving came around she was there cooking dinner and making sure all her family would be full and happy. She had six children and made sure that if they were coming there would be plenty of food for them, the kids, and anyone else who may join us. Images of her doing word search puzzles while the turkey is cooking will forever be in my mind.
Smart- I'm not sure if there was ever a time where Grandma wasn't going through a book. She just loved to read. I think seeing her read so much helped encourage me to get involved in reading as well. Though I can't say I gained the same interest in the genre that she was into (romance novels) I remember going into her room just to talk to her and she would be reading. The romance novel companies can thank her for helping them brace through a recession. She was always wanting to expand her mind through those books and also Jeopardy. There weren't many nights that would go by where we didn't turn the TV on at 7pm. We would watch Wheel of Fortune (or wheel of torture as we referred to it when we were younger) and Jeopardy. Grandma would know answers to questions that I as a high school student was amazed that anyone would know. Her vast knowledge encouraged me through high school and college and drove me to want to learn more all the time.
Religious- If there was ever one person I had to pick out as a major influence in my conversion it would be my Grandma. Though I was rebellious at the age of 16 there was one thing I knew, Grandma is serious about God. Though I can't say I wanted to go every Sunday, Grandma made sure I went. We would all pack into the fifteen passenger van and go to church. She was faithful in doing her daily Bible reading and devotions through "Daily Bread". Watching her take her religion so seriously caused me to step back and view my own opinions. At the time I was an atheist and couldn't understand how a person could devote their lives to a God they can't see. Through the few years living there it was refreshing to see her commitment to God. Knowing that it wasn't easy being in the situations that she had gone through during her life that she would still hold fast to her God was empowering. She had diabetes and lived in what many would consider a lower income situation and yet she never once questioned God. If ever I had seen the perfect picture of Christ it was in my own Grandmother. She loved God with every ounce of her heart. She showed the love of God in all that she has done and I know for me and the rest of our family we will never forget her strength and love through Jesus. She walked the faith she believed. She loved her large family. She lived to provide and give to others without asking for anything in return.
Grandma, though I am well aware that you have left this earth and you can not read this, I hope that up in heaven God reveals to you how big of an impact you truly had on the people that you left behind. I know that I am on the straight and narrow path because you examplified that life for me. Because you chose to love and welcome a troubled teen into your home and love me unconditionally. You were a strong and wonderful woman of God and I hope that with your love inside of me I can become like you were. Enjoy your life in heaven and know when I die I will seek you out and give you the embrace I was unable to give you on this earth before you passed. I love you greatly and you will be forever missed.
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