A Tribute to my Beloved Grandmother



One of my favorite pictures of us

My maternal grandmother passed away last Friday, Sept. 27th. She was 89 years old. We were close family and friends. I am so blessed to have her in my life. I had the honor of speaking at her funeral and wanted to share what I said with you. I am so glad Caden got to meet her and visit her before she passed away. Her children and grandchildren meant the world to her.  She was one of the few who gave me hope after my multiple miscarriages. She told me, with confience, not to give up and that I would have more children. Not too long after she told me that, I was became pregnant. Like I said in one of my previous baby update posts, I'm naming my daughter after my grandmother. My grandmother's name was Doris and she was full of love and grace. God's grace saves us. Grace menas the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings. My grandmother was a very gracious person, full of God's grace. So in her honor and now memory, my daugther's name will be Grace Holley.  Holley was her maiden name and a name she cherished. As a child my siblings and I would joke about whoever had the first girl would have to name her Holley. Family meant so much to her and she meant so much to us.

My sweet grandparents
Married 55 years

There is so much to be said about her life but here are the simple words I said at her funeral.

 

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

 

Doris Askins fit the definition of love. She was not only my grandmother but my teacher, second mother, mentor, and one of my best friends.  She helped raise me and treated me like a daughter. I spent a lot of time growing up at my grandparents’ house. We went to church together. Most Sundays I would go to her house after morning service and not return home until after evening service, unless I was spending the night on Saturday with them.  She was a bible scholar, a hard worker, giving, kind, humble, strict, and a woman who deeply loved our Lord and Savior. She loved her family and friends dearly. She viewed the Bible as a pattern for life, how God wanted us to live.

 

My grandmother loved God, her family, church, studying the Bible, sewing, reading, playing games, spending time with family, Coca-Cola, Mexican food, desserts, and life.



She loved being a grandmother and great-grandmother!

She meant so much to all of us. She loved God with all of her heart. She cared for the needy and poor, and was always willing to give a helping hand, from volunteering at church, Neighborhood Needs, and Meals on Wheels, to standing up for what is right. She was also strict, a no-nonsense woman. You would not want to try and rob her! She was always ready to defend the weak. Yet, she laughed and had a great sense of humor. She easily saw the funny things in life. She kept her house clean and in order. She demanded respect and obedience from her children and grandchildren but also gave us lots of love and forgiveness. Her home was our home away from home. Day or night we were always welcomed. Her breakfasts were amazing. She loved having all of her grandchildren over to spend the night and in the morning she would cook us whatever we wanted. She baked the best desserts and was a great seamstress. She loved children and loved having her family around. Family meant so much to her. She encouraged me, gave me hope when life seemed hopeless, and loved me as only a mother could love someone.

 

One of the few pictures with all of us
We were visiting from Germany

She told me on occasion how she had always wanted to be a grandmother. She never had a grandmother and wanted to be the best she knew how. She taught us games from Poor Kitty to 42, Moon, and Chicken-Foot. She taught her grandchildren how to play volleyball and bad-mitten and played with us! She was full of life and energy. She even bought a Nintendo for her house because she knew her grandchildren would love it. Anything to make her home feel more like a home to her grandchildren she did.

We can rejoice because Doris is no longer suffering. She is in Heaven. She often talked about going to Heaven and being with our Lord and Savior and how we could all live together forever there. I think what Paul wrote in Philippians 4:4-8, sums up how Doris Askins lived and wished everyone else would to.





When I was pregnant with Caden, her first great grandchild.
She was so excited! She loved children!

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

 

She often quoted this last part to me as a guide for my life.

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."

If we all tried to live more like my grandmother did, this world would be a better place. Thank you, Grandmother for all the love, grace, and hope you gave us.  We love you.

 

One of the few family pictures with most people. My grandparent's 50th anniversary.
This pictures everyone except one of the cousins who was not born yet.

Picture of her as a teenager