by Naturally, my grandma, also known as Grandpa, was devastated by the unexpected death of my grandfather in August 1965. We were all rather worried about her, her health, her finances, and her mood.
She gradually regained her vigor because of her unwavering faith, and for another 29 years, her health was steady. But Grandpa never put money first, so her finances were never as stable as her kids wanted.
She always put God first, her family second, and fishing third in her priorities. Money was at the bottom of the list. She prepared meals for the family she loved and studied her Bible every single day. But after finishing her chores, she picked up a can of worms and her fishing pole and went to the pond.
Grandpa always gave away her spare dollars to others in town who seemed to need them more than she did. Someone was always in need. She believed what the Good Lord had said: “A rich man cannot enter the Kingdom of God, but a camel can pass through the eye of a needle more easily.” In addition to the fact that Greed and Grandpa were fierce rivals, she believed she had to travel to Heaven as it was where her cherished husband resided.
Her altruistic deeds were incredibly motivating.
Even though money was tight, Grandpa was inventive. She had a large garden where she grew her gladiolas and her meals. The white flowers and the winter veggies she canned were always for the nursing home down the street or her Baptist church around the corner.Grandpa when she was younger.
She spent her time crocheting an afghan blanket to donate or quilting a new bed cover when she wasn’t cooking or fishing. Her competitive nature provided amusement; we enjoyed attempting to outscore her in games like Rook and Scrabble, but it was difficult. Her games didn’t entail gambling or betting, and there was no way to profit from her lovely blankets and quilts. She would say, “Those blankets are meant to keep people warm, and gambling is sinful.”
She was taught by the greatest that money was merely a necessity, but when it turns into an obsession, it can make you feel like a camel trying to get through a needle.
There was a problem with Grandpa’s harvest gold refrigerator. Grandpa was the one who would require a dependable refrigerator more than anybody else, as she was able to fit that device into a tin can like sardines. Grandpa was probably in the hospital or had fallen into the pond while attempting to capture Granddaddy Bass if you couldn’t find what you were looking for to eat inside.
Your favorite cuisine would have been waiting for you in her old Frigidaire if you had only met her momentarily.
Grandpa was in desperate need of a larger freezer and refrigerator. Despite having a little nest money from the sale of her home, my grandmother had a problem: she inherited a stubbornness gene that still runs in the family today.
My mother, Donald, and Mary Ruth, her three children, started urging her to spend some of the money on a new refrigerator. Grandpa, however, disregarded all three of them and insisted that the ancient refrigerator would somehow be revived.
Three envelopes were mailed to each of Grandpa’s children when Christmas arrived. Each envelope contained a $400.00 cheque. Your father would want you all to have this money, I’m sure of it. We adore you, so spend it on anything you enjoy! Mama, love.
Grandpa’s kids started calling each other right away. They realized that she really needed everything she could keep, and they knew she was going to give everything away.
They came up with a plan because it was Grandpa’s birthday in June. The three of them decided to use their combined $1200.00 to buy her the best refrigerator available at the time, knowing that she would not return the money due to her hereditary, persistent disease.
In addition to being stunned and taken aback, Grandpa was ecstatic when it was delivered. Oh no, none of you should have done it to me! As she hurriedly stocked the shelves with everyone’s favorite goods, she remarked this.
She was unaware that the new, opulent side-by-side refrigerator had been bought with her money until the day Grandpa passed away.
Dear Lord, even if Grandpa wasn’t affluent, she was rich in many other ways. I would sacrifice everything I own to be as devout as she was. I have no doubt that she went through the needle’s eye to be seated next to the husband and Lord she loved.
That kind of joy and freedom cannot be purchased with money.
Matthew 19:24
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Author and journalist Lynn Walker Gendusa was born in Tennessee and currently resides in Georgia. Southern Comfort: Stories of Family, Friendship, Fiery Trials, and Faith is her most recent book.Her website is www.lynngendusa.com.Click here to read more of her motivational tales.
