I recently had the privilege of spending quite a bit of time with my grandmother, Maxine . Of course, every girl thinks their grandmother is the most wonderful person, and at 34, I still think that Maxine is the most wonderful, amazing woman alive. Everyone needs a Maxine. In this crazy world, where I am always trying to find myself and where I fit in, my grandmother has always had a way of reminding me who I am and what is important. I have decided to spend a few postings sharing this lady.
My grandmother is well in her 80's. She grew up in the depression and tells me stories from it so detailed that I feel as though I experienced it right along with her. She wore flour sack dresses and hand-me-down shoes that blistered her feet to school. Yet, to see her today, she is one of the classiest ladies I have ever met. She is the meaning of survivor.
She shows me that no matter what your situation, pull yourself together and put on a smile, and go on. She said "just because we were poor didn't mean we had to act poor".
She grew up with little money, married very young, had 4 children, her husband became sick with Hodgkins when the youngest was around 7 she spent the next 7 or so years driving him to another state for treatment, raising the kids, and taking over her ailing husbands job managing a store. He passed away, leaving her with 2 children at home. She made it without any government assistance or help from her family. She found a way to pay the doctor bills, the house, the car, and provide food and clothing for her kids. She remarried several years later and helped her new husband run his business while forming a new blended family with his 4 children.
She has shared so much wisdom about life. I often wonder what the world would be like if every woman had a Maxine for a grandmother. That sounds like a silly thing to write, but I am being honest. I know that some women have to work...obviously, my grandmother had to work at times,too. But, what if women didn't feel the need to have a sucessful career outside the home to feel important? What if every woman found some pride in keeping a house clean and comforting, was fulfilled preparing a healthy meal for their family and making sure sheets and clothes smelled nice and fresh. My boys love it and that makes me happy! But even more so, I love it and that is rewarding. How is it that in today's world, being a housewife has become thought of as "simple" and not as important as working outside the home. Why is it that some women consider it insulting? My grandmother may not have been able to get a great education, but she has more wisdom than many "educated" women. I think that today's world values knowledge more than wisdom. If we take a look at proverbs, God seems to find high value in wisdom.
My grandmother is well in her 80's. She grew up in the depression and tells me stories from it so detailed that I feel as though I experienced it right along with her. She wore flour sack dresses and hand-me-down shoes that blistered her feet to school. Yet, to see her today, she is one of the classiest ladies I have ever met. She is the meaning of survivor.
She shows me that no matter what your situation, pull yourself together and put on a smile, and go on. She said "just because we were poor didn't mean we had to act poor".
She grew up with little money, married very young, had 4 children, her husband became sick with Hodgkins when the youngest was around 7 she spent the next 7 or so years driving him to another state for treatment, raising the kids, and taking over her ailing husbands job managing a store. He passed away, leaving her with 2 children at home. She made it without any government assistance or help from her family. She found a way to pay the doctor bills, the house, the car, and provide food and clothing for her kids. She remarried several years later and helped her new husband run his business while forming a new blended family with his 4 children.
She has shared so much wisdom about life. I often wonder what the world would be like if every woman had a Maxine for a grandmother. That sounds like a silly thing to write, but I am being honest. I know that some women have to work...obviously, my grandmother had to work at times,too. But, what if women didn't feel the need to have a sucessful career outside the home to feel important? What if every woman found some pride in keeping a house clean and comforting, was fulfilled preparing a healthy meal for their family and making sure sheets and clothes smelled nice and fresh. My boys love it and that makes me happy! But even more so, I love it and that is rewarding. How is it that in today's world, being a housewife has become thought of as "simple" and not as important as working outside the home. Why is it that some women consider it insulting? My grandmother may not have been able to get a great education, but she has more wisdom than many "educated" women. I think that today's world values knowledge more than wisdom. If we take a look at proverbs, God seems to find high value in wisdom.
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