Living Well
The Gift of a grandmother’s love
Recognizing the blessing of a praying grandmother
By Monica Fountain
I
used to say that I didn’t have a grandmother.
My mother’s mother died when my mother was only
seven or eight years old. My father’s mother died before I was born.
I didn’t envy those with a close relationship with their grandmothers but I did admire it and wish that I had experienced the
same thing. My husband’s grandmother, Florence Geneva Hagler,
was the epitome of the word “grandmother.” She was truly a
grand woman, a “grand,” outstanding mother. She was a joy to be
around and when I
was “engrafted”
into my husband’s
family I admired,
respected and
loved her. She was
a woman to pattern yourself after.
A loving wife,
mother and grandmother. A praying Mother Mary Green holding my infant
daughter Imani, 18 years ago.
woman. What I
call a true “Proverbs 31 Woman.”
But I recently had a revelation. I did have a grandmother. She
was not a grandmother who was tied to me by blood but she was
given to me by God.
Her name was Mary Green.
She was a member of my father’s church in Kankakee. She didn’t have biological children but she was a mother. She was a
member of the Mother’s Board, that group of older ladies who
sat on the second row dressed in white. They were mothers and
grandmothers who had attained the title of mother and had been
inducted into the Mother’s Board.
There was Mother Sally Dillard, Mother Jackson, Mother Cox,
Mother Andrews and Mother Temple. They would tighten up the
children sitting in the front row. Mother Temple loved working
with children. When the Spirit was in the place and folks were
shouting and praising the Lord, Mother Cox would shout and it
looked like she was dancing a hula dance.
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The Well Magazine Fall/Winter 2013
Then there was Mother Green. I don’t know when she became
knit to our family but she was special. She formed a special bond
with our family. She was a widow and lived in a house by herself.
Eventually she had to move to a one-bedroom apartment in the
senior citizens building. I loved spending the night at Mother
Green’s house. It was a special occasion.
She made the best bread rolls. Her rolls melted in your mouth.
I remember coming into her kitchen and seeing the flour and
dough for her rolls. She made the best lemon meringue and coconut cream pies. She was as sweet as the pies that she made.
She delighted in me and doted on me. She loved me. But the
most important thing that Mother Green ever did was pray for
me. Whether I was away in college or traveling overseas, I knew
that Mother Green was praying for me.
She was too sick to attend my wedding, but her name was listed
on my wedding program with the grandparents. Three years later,
I was able to bring my daughter to see her and place her in her
lap. The last time I saw her she was in the hospital. She was in
pain. Her back was dry and I rubbed lotion on it to give her some
relief.
Sometimes we think we have lacked something because we
don’t realize the gift that God has given us. Because it didn’t
come wrapped in the package we thought it would, we don’t appreciate the blessings that God has given us.
Grandmothers provide a great legacy. The love of a grandmother is a great gift to be treasured, whether it is from a mother
who is related to you by blood or one that God has given you
and knit to your soul.
I don’t have any biological grandchildren yet but I do have a
granddaughter that God has given me by love. I loved her the
first time I saw her. I don’t have the title of grandmother but I
pray for her every day. I delight when I see her. She is a special
joy , the same joy that I hear expressed by my friends who have
risen to the ranks of grandmother-hood when they share pictures
and stories about their grandchildren on Facebook. I understand
when they say, “Ain’t nothing like the grands.”
There is nothing like the love of a grandparent. It is a special
love and connection.
I won’t be saying I didn’t have a grandmother anymore. I had a
“grand” mother. Mother Mary Green.