A Grandmother’s Time

Ann H GabhartAnn's Posts, One Writer's Journal

A grandmother is a little bit parent, a little bit teacher, and a little bit best friend.  ~Author Unknown
Time – it’s been on my mind this week because of Daylight Savings Time. Mom can’t adjust to the time change very well because while she’s forgotten many things, she hasn’t forgotten that meals come at certain daylight times. Manipulating the hands of a clock doesn’t change that overnight. And the numbers on a clock mean little to someone who has spent years on a farm ruled by sun time instead of artificially legislated time. My father refused to observe Daylight Savings Time and just did the math when it was necessary to deal with the world.  
Time is also something a grandmother understands well and by the time she has grandchildren, she knows how quickly time slides past. She has walked through the garden of life gathering experience and wisdom. And patience and love. A grandmother is a gift and a joy and for many of her grandchildren, a lesson in fortitude and hard work. Tonight we have a couple of stories that show that. First from R.D.

 
“My grandmaw lived for 98 yrs at the home she
went to as a bride at 14. She could outwork most until a few years before she
passed away. We all called her Maw. She dipped snuff. Was a tiny little thing. She
could tell you about more history in the area than a  book…she would
call the area the trail. The Indians would cross that area. Many people found
buckets of arrow heads,and artifacts. She picked cotton,had ten children; the
youngest (85 now) is still living there and never lived anywhere else. He had 8
kids. Some others had 8-9-10 kids. Some 2. Her only daughter living is 96 and still
lives at home with a great mind and still cooks her pintos and fried taters. Maw
used to stay with us some growing up. We loved it. She was quarter
Indian,and we loved that we were kin to Indians. Maw was so special. We
always visited her,(and all our grandparents)but she was the one that I keep in my
heart close. She gave me a very ugly whatnot and I’d never been prouder of a
gift. It was special to her, thus to me. I miss her.”

Holly also had a special grandmother who made it through some hard times. Here are some memories she shares of her grandmother.
 
“My grandmother was a hard
working woman who raised 5 children during the depression by herself.  My
grandfather passed away when my Dad was only 4 years old. She took in laundry,
babysat, and worked however she could in order to provide for herself and the
children. I remember her as a happy person who tried to find the good in
everything. She knew how to make do with what she had.  I know that she has
a beautiful mansion in heaven now!”

The good Lord knew what he was doing when he provided us with grandmothers. Helpers. Teachers. Friends. Dispensers of pure love. 

More grandmother stories are on the way. And if you haven’t entered my Scent of Lilacs Giveaway Celebration, you still have time. Just leave a comment here with a way to contact you or send me an e-mail from my website. Great first prize of a Grandmother’s Bible. Jocie told a grandmother story on her blog post on her Hollyhill Book that I think you might like. She loved her Mama Mae the way so many of you loved your grandmothers. Please keep sharing your stories. I love hearing them and hope you are enjoying reading those stories I’ve been able to share forward. 

  Grandmas hold our tiny hands for just a little while, but our hearts forever.  ~Author Unknown