Grandma Womack’s Memorial
As I reflected on Grandma’s life to prepare for today, I thought back on my many memories of her. Of my brother, sister, and I spending countless nights at her house which always included a trip to McDonalds for breakfast – for us grandkids it was sausage gravy biscuits and pancakes and sausage for her – and then typically a visit to Walmart for a toy of our choice. All of my memories show the heart of the woman who raised 5 beautiful daughters and more than a handful of wonderful grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well as countless friends that became part of her family. Her love for her family was one of her many legacies, which I had the privilege to be a part of. My memories held another theme which is of her faith in Christ. I know, like many of the family, that she is in Heaven right now driving her ’67 Mustang.
Some days and memories I can remember as if they were yesterday, some I wish I had remembered better, but all of them I hold dear. Grandma’s family was everything to her. Whether it was picking her grandchildren up to go to their various activities or eating lunch on Sunday afternoon as an extended family, I know she enjoyed her time with family as much as we enjoyed did. I will definitely never forget the times which her food wasn’t hot enough or wasn’t cooked right. I remember when AJ and I first moved to Texas how difficult is was to miss holidays because we spent every holiday together with the extended family, whether it was Easter, Memorial Day, or Christmas - it was with the family, the ENTIRE family. In fact, most of our birthdays were celebrated in their own dinner with the entire family.
Another favorite memory of mine is our back-to-school shopping trips. This was the time that we were able to buy all the clothes that Mom and Dad wouldn’t have bought us – including Justin’s awesome color changing shirt. These typically included a lunch to Mexico Chiquito…yet another of our location that will always hold memories. As we grew, she influenced us in different ways yet always sending us to church camp, picking us up from various hobbies and just sitting with her. Many memories I have is of her sitting on one side of the bar while I’m sitting on the other.
You never wanted to be on the receiving end of her disappointment. And you knew when you did something that she didn’t agree with, you would definitely hear about it.But her proudest days were when her precious grandchildren grew up, graduated highschool, graduated college, got married and had children of their own. Grandma was proud of her children and grandchildren. I only hope she knows even the glimmer of what influence she has had in each of our lives.
Grandma was a woman of faith. How could she not have been if she had 5 girls? As a grandchild, my earliest memories of Grandma are at church. I never sat too far away from Grandma as she provided us with gum and notepads. Grandma taught us the importance of having faith, what it meant to be a Christian, and how important it was to be involved in church. I can’t tell you the number of times I saw her working for the church, for Gideon’s, prayer breakfasts, and Wednesday night Church group at El Chico. I know that despite how sick she had gotten in the past couple of years, her faith is what helped her through it.
One of the last times that I saw her was Sunday, July 4th, just after she had received communion. I know that she is up in Heaven enjoying all the wonders heaven has for her to experience while drinking coffee as hot as God makes it. She would tell you today that she did all things through Christ who strengthened her. I truly believe if Grandma could talk to us, she would tell us not to fear, but have faith. To hold strong to the values and beliefs she instilled in us. I believe she would want us to look within to evaluate our lives and find out if we are living for ourselves or for God. Because you and I know, that she is planning on seeing us on the other side of Heaven…and boy you don’t want to get her riled up if she didn’t get what she wanted. She would want us to grow closer to God as we attempt to pick up the pieces of our broken hearts. She would want us to hold our memories of her, her love of family, and her love of her Heavenly Father in our hearts and to spread our love and faith to the world.
To end, I’ll leave you with one last message Grandma sent me. I have been reading a Daily Bible Reading and Devotional Study. Over the past two weeks, I had fallen behind on my readings. On Thursday night, I read the devotional from August 8th, the day Grandma went to Heaven. The Bible Verse of the devotional was “Put your trust in the Lord” Proverbs 22:19. Here are the words from the devotional – “The problem with this world is that it doesn’t fit. Oh, it will do for now, but it isn’t tailor-made. We were made to live with God, but on earth we live by faith. We were made to live forever, but on this eart we live for but a moment. We must trust God. We must trust not only that he does what is best but that he knows what ahead. Ponder the words of Isaia 57:1-2: “Those who are right with God may die, but no one pays attention. Good people are taken away, but no one understands. Those who do right are being taken away from evil and are given peace. Those who live as God wants find rest in death.” I know Grandma has found peace and rest.
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