Mamaws Teachings

Mamaw was very ill, she was dying from lung cancer. August was here and I new it was a matter of time for her to go . Praying every night before bed that she wouldnt go on my birthday, Aug. 22 . Fortunately for me she went home on the 29 , just 7 days later . She said to me once that I was her " child with an old soul". Always felt out of sorts too ,like I should have been from an earlier time! ? The first thing I can say I learned from her was to love unconditionally ( there's a lot of pain that comes with that). And it doesnt always mean you have to like either ! Patience ......to listen and to give . You may have a different opinion or you may not like what is being said but there is always something to learn if you listen! To give of myself to others, because its free . And when you give of yourself( from the heart !) it comes back . Treat all as if they were JESUS !! and that can be quite difficult at times !!! , I make myself stand back and say " I know its really not but what if ? ". Like , have you ever looked into , and I mean really looked into the eyes of a child ? If you dont see JESUS in there then you havent really looked !!! I cherish looking into childrens eyes !! Not just my children or grand children , but them all . I encourage you to look next time your out in the grocery . Just give a little smile and see what you get in return . Its like magic ! Now for the last , forgiveness . We all need to forgive daily . Try not and let it exceed the day . It becomes harder to find the forgiveness sometimes as days pass . Try not to say that you cant or that its unforgivable . But remember above all that JESUS does ! and to me to say that I cant forgive is to say that Im better than him . Well , and that certainly wont happen ! My Mamaw was so loving and giving , feminine and yet very strong and indepedant too ! That was a bit of a rarety for her time . For I've heard stories (as she was a single parent of three ), that when she bought a new home and had no grass in the yard that she used an old hand tiller to prepare her yard for seed. And being the entreprenuer that she was , she would hand till other neighbors yards for extra money. She would make mr & mrs santa dolls , ceramic x-mas trees , hanging perched owls , and many many others ! She was also the owner of a Tavern in louis. ky. Crippling arthritis she had in her hands , her fingers were all bent towards her pinky fingers . But never did it hold her back from getting done what needed to be done ! RC cola is what she drank and Belair cigarrettes is what she smoked . She had a thing about always trying to make everyone feel special . She was good at that too : ) At thanksgiving she would ask everyone, what is your favorite pie ? then she would see to it that the pie was there for them . It was a lot of fun for me to be with her as she cooked . I had an over head view as the kitchen she used to do all of her BIG cooking was in the basement. All I had to do was sit on the steps and I was on one side of the stove and counter and she was on the other . It was great ! I got to see and taste it all . Is that too much ? does it need more salt? And of course I got to lick all the spoons ! YUM ! And for her I was always in sight but never in the way . Sure wish I could talk to her , I have alot of questions . Proud I hope she is of me !