I’ve written a time or two about my grandmother (Grana to the family).  This past Friday she turned 93 years old.  Included is a picture from her birthday party (It served as a dual party with another resident at the nursing home).

  Grana was born on September 21, 1914 and had a tough life growing up.  Her father and step mother, for whatever reason, didn’t want her… so she was raised by one of her uncles.  Grana never finished grade school.  And thus she never finished high school.  She worked in the cotton mills in Columbus, Georgia her whole life.  She married one time and got divorced when it was not as socially acceptable as it is today.  She raised three kids by her self (My dad, my Uncle Bob {Deceased}, and Aunt Annette).  THAT was tough…

  She faithfully took her kids to Second Baptist Church in Columbus and was a teacher for what was then called The Primary Department (2 to 5 year old children).  She was a member of WMU, took food to families who had lost loved ones, and generally was a good and faithful church member.  One of the first verse of Scripture I remember learning was because of Grana.  It was Proverbs 17:17, “A friend loveth at all times.”  That was a theme of her life.

  When my uncle got sick with cancer, she moved to Atlanta to take care of him.  For a number of years when he couldn’t take care of himself very well… Grana did… as only a mother can.  When my uncle passed away she told me it was the hardest thing she’d ever gone through.

  For the last 7 years or so Grana has lived with my dad… close to Opelika, Alabama.  She has slowed down… but that’s what happens when you live into your 90s.  Her mind slips a little, but she still has a sharp wit.  She says she can’t hear… but it’s amazing to me that she can understand normal conversation when she wants to.  I call that “Selective Deafness Syndrome.”

  My Grana has had a much harder life than many… but is still a sweet & precious lady.  I indeed love my Grana.  She’ll never read this, but… HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANA!  I love you more than you know.  I end with a few verses I think of in relation to Grana…

  Psalm 37:25, “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.”  (God has taken care of my Grana!!)

  Psalm 71:18, “So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.”  (Her favorite song now is “Jesus loves the little children.”)

  1 Peter 5:4, “When the chief Shepherd appears, (she) will receive the unfading crown of glory.”

  2 Timothy 4:8, “There is laid up for (you) the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to (her) on that Day, and not only to (her) but also to all who have loved his appearing.”

  Proverbs 17:17, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”  (Thank you Grana!)