Several years ago, my precious Grandmother went home to the Lord. As I celebrated her life, I mourned the loss of not only a family member, but a great friend. I wish you all could have met her. She had a way of deeply touching the lives of each person she met. She was truly a spectacular woman that had a huge impact on the person I am today.
During her funeral, the Pastor gave a eulogy that was titled, “Grace Upon Grace.” The pastor knew her well, and it was a perfect way to describe who she was and the legacy she left behind. I remember the second the Pastor spoke those words, “Grace Upon Grace.” The strangest thing happened to me in that moment. Grace…Grace. The word echoed in my head. Grace…Grace. I didn’t think much about it at the time. However, much to my surprise, that echo would reoccur in my head for years to come.
For years following that day, whenever I would hear the word “Grace,” (whether it was in a conversation song, etc) it would echo in my mind. Hard to explain. I have always felt the Lord has been trying to tell me something but hasn’t yet revealed what that is. It continues to happen. Until the answer to the question, “Why does that happen?” comes to surface, I take pleasure in the reminder to take a moment and remember the Grace He offers to each of us and shows us in our everyday life.
This past Sunday, a friend of mine spoke at my church. Anita Anderson, pictured with me above, is the mother of a friend of mine. She is an amazing woman that embodies what it means to be bold, kind, gentle, loving, endearing, inspirational, Christ-like, and graceful. She spoke about her recent mission trip to Liberia. As she spoke, I reminisced on how just two years ago, she traveled with me on a mission trip to Romania. She was still recovering from knee surgery then, but of course she wasn’t going to let that slow her down. I remembered sitting next to her on the long plane ride home. Her mannerisms, her laugh, and her gentleness, reminded me so much of my dearly missed grandmother. I can’t tell you how I not only enjoyed serving with her on the mission field, but also just sitting next to her on that ride home.
Yesterday she stood before me in a traditional African dress. It was a bright lime green color and was so symbolic of her bold “Go Get’em” attitude. As she told the stories of her trip to Africa, I admired the love she has for so many and the grace that flows out of her. Yes, the word Grace was echoing in my head again. I imagined “Well done Good and Faithful Servant” being said to her one day. What a legacy she too is leaving here with us.
Anita is a mother, a daughter, a wife, a leader, a missionary, prayer warrior, and of course, a Grace upon Grace example. It is my honor to add one more word to that list by calling her a personal “friend.” Thinking about the legacy she is creating, prompted me to think about not only my grandmother’s legacy but mine as well. What am I leaving behind me on my own life’s path? What are you leaving behind? Would “Grace Upon Grace” fit my life? Would it fit yours? Grace. How will I be an example of it today? How will you? Grace …Grace….
During her funeral, the Pastor gave a eulogy that was titled, “Grace Upon Grace.” The pastor knew her well, and it was a perfect way to describe who she was and the legacy she left behind. I remember the second the Pastor spoke those words, “Grace Upon Grace.” The strangest thing happened to me in that moment. Grace…Grace. The word echoed in my head. Grace…Grace. I didn’t think much about it at the time. However, much to my surprise, that echo would reoccur in my head for years to come.
For years following that day, whenever I would hear the word “Grace,” (whether it was in a conversation song, etc) it would echo in my mind. Hard to explain. I have always felt the Lord has been trying to tell me something but hasn’t yet revealed what that is. It continues to happen. Until the answer to the question, “Why does that happen?” comes to surface, I take pleasure in the reminder to take a moment and remember the Grace He offers to each of us and shows us in our everyday life.
This past Sunday, a friend of mine spoke at my church. Anita Anderson, pictured with me above, is the mother of a friend of mine. She is an amazing woman that embodies what it means to be bold, kind, gentle, loving, endearing, inspirational, Christ-like, and graceful. She spoke about her recent mission trip to Liberia. As she spoke, I reminisced on how just two years ago, she traveled with me on a mission trip to Romania. She was still recovering from knee surgery then, but of course she wasn’t going to let that slow her down. I remembered sitting next to her on the long plane ride home. Her mannerisms, her laugh, and her gentleness, reminded me so much of my dearly missed grandmother. I can’t tell you how I not only enjoyed serving with her on the mission field, but also just sitting next to her on that ride home.
Yesterday she stood before me in a traditional African dress. It was a bright lime green color and was so symbolic of her bold “Go Get’em” attitude. As she told the stories of her trip to Africa, I admired the love she has for so many and the grace that flows out of her. Yes, the word Grace was echoing in my head again. I imagined “Well done Good and Faithful Servant” being said to her one day. What a legacy she too is leaving here with us.
Anita is a mother, a daughter, a wife, a leader, a missionary, prayer warrior, and of course, a Grace upon Grace example. It is my honor to add one more word to that list by calling her a personal “friend.” Thinking about the legacy she is creating, prompted me to think about not only my grandmother’s legacy but mine as well. What am I leaving behind me on my own life’s path? What are you leaving behind? Would “Grace Upon Grace” fit my life? Would it fit yours? Grace. How will I be an example of it today? How will you? Grace …Grace….
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