Kristie Lynn Nelson
Some of my most precious memories are the moments with my grandmother and great grandmother. I spent countless glorious hours with them together under the same roof and became the woman I am today because of their words to me. Two bible verses come to mind that they shared with me at a young age and told me to keep them both as dear to my heart as they have, and I forever will.
John 3:16 For God so Loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him, shall not parish but have everlasting life.
Luke 11 Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory for ever and ever. Amen
I have never seen two more beautiful women in my life. When I was a young girl blessed to be sitting between the both of these graceful beauties, one stroking my hair and the other softly rubbing my back, while they shared with me their thoughts on how a woman should carry herself and the strength she holds by acting with dignity and grace. One of my great grandmothers most remembered instructions for me was , “ Kristie Lynn, always remember to turn the light off before undressing, a man should never see you in your God given form, but should hold his love for you by the person you are within you”. I knew I was most certainly in heaven and these words I would cherish forever.
My parents could never know what they had given me, by leaving me with my grandmothers for long evenings on their date nights. We shared club crackers, orange juice with 1 tsp of sugar (of course to cut the acid), brown sugar fudge (my great grandmother’s personal recipe, the best in my opinion.), and Whitman’s Chocolates. Hot tea was the drink of choice in the evening, while watching the Glenn Campbell music show. (my grandmothers would sing along). All the while, I laid across their laps, loving every precious moment of our time together. Three of 4 generations sharing priceless time.
My grandmother cared for me during many stressful moments in my family’s life. My mother was in the hospital a few different times, once giving birth to my sister and once fighting for her life after a botched procedure. For me, my grandmother was the sweetest most endearing woman you could ever know, and you could not help but adore and love her. She had the most beautiful smile and the softest tone to her voice, I hung on her every word and her every smile and touch. She hung the moon in my world.
My great grandmother was the vision of grace and beauty, she had the whitest of hair, like soft cotton and even in her 90’s she had the most beautiful figure, like an angel. She was sweet but stern and held more love in her pinky finger than most could hold in a lifetime.
I would not know of my great grandmother’s passing as hers came quickly and unexpectantly at 93 years old.
As a young girl of 10 years old, I had a dream, my great grandmother came to me and sat on the edge of my bedside in a long flowing white dress, placed her hand on my forehead and smiled, I believe she was then telling me of her passing and that she would always be with me. The very next morning my mom came to my room to tell me of her passing. My first heartbreak was at that very moment.
It was at another family members funeral, when I suddenly felt compelled to tell my grandmother, while sitting outside the viewing room, how much I loved her and how much she meant to me in my life. I told her I would always be there for her and how proud I was to have her in my life and have so many wonderful memories with her.
I shed a few tears and held her hand, I believe I knew it would not be long before she too would pass away, as if an angel or the good Lord was resting in my ear with this thought.
A year later at 76 years old, I lost this beautiful woman, sending her on her way to the many she loved and the good Lord she cherished, but I never lost the memories of her and I feel she is with me always.
My grandmother’s favorite flowers were daisies and sky-blue pink carnations. Now you may not know what sky-blue pink is, but have you ever looked at the sky at night or early evening and saw the mix of the pinks and blues draped across the sky? This my friends, is my grandmothers sky-blue pink and every time I see that sky, I know she Is there.
It would seem every time I move that precarious bushes of daisies follow me. After walking around the perimeter of each home , I find a bush of daisies somewhere along side the walls of my home and as I gaze upon them I smile and I feel a warmth in my heart because I know wherever I go my grandmother is with me. She is in the colors of the sky and the bountiful bushes of daisies and she is in my heart forever.
My sons have and are growing up so fast, I hope that I have given them as much as my grandmothers gave me and that they will remember, life is not just about the journey, it's about the moments. I too will take my wings one day, God willing, and I too will share subtle ways, that I will be with them always.
If you are ever so lucky to find amazing people in your life that carry these memories and feelings within you, hold onto them and cherish them, life moves so fast and we, while on this ride, sometimes forget to stop and smell the daisies and appreciate what God has given us.
