grandma with great granddaughter giving her a kiss on the cheek
Grandma with Gracie

A week ago, during the Covid19 pandemic, I lost the woman who inspired me most to be determined, kind, strong, and faithful. To never give up, to persevere, and to always forgive and always love. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
My Grandmother.

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I am so proud of the life she led. One of servitude and gratitude. One of love and determination. One of sacrifice and generosity. One of faith, not fear. Always ready for adventure and fun. Always lending a hand to hold, a kiss and a hug.

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No matter the circumstance, challenging, sad, frustrating, or overwhelming, Grandma persevered and kept a positive attitude. There were many times she could have become angry, thrown in the towel or walked away. Her life of caring for others wasn’t easy. She lost so many loved ones, parents, husband, children, sisters and friends. But she always made the best of every situation. She always found the positive.

Long after my grandfather passed away, and after my father had passed away, my uncle was thought to be dying, and my aunt was ill too. I was curious and asked Grandma if she ever got angry at God. I asked if she ever asked God why.

Her response, “No, I just pray more.”

Today, as I live my life, run my business and raise my children, I look to Grandma’s strength, perseverance and inspiration to keep going with a smile, to live with grace, to find humor and adventure in the smallest things, and to be kind and gentle with myself and others.

I pray more and worry less.