Last night, I was privledged to watch a godly woman pass from the pains of this world into the arms of her Creator. My grandmother, who has fought and suffered through these latter years, finally stopped fighting and allowed herself to experience perfect peace in Christ. I couldn’t help looking over her last night, wondering what she was seeing and experiencing…what it feels like to actually see the things – the Person – we’ve only seen through faith in this life. She was an incredible person and has left a great legacy behind that I will be able to share with my daughter and child to come.
This loss has also left, however, a broken heart for a man who loved his wife for 67 years. I watched my Granddad try to remain strong for his family, yet feel the overwhelming seperation from a woman whom he has loved for the majority of his years alive. After the tears, the goodbyes, and the final hugs, my granddad begin to share with my brother and I wisdom about marriage, love, and priorities. When someone who knows the trials, the joys, victories and losses of a 67 year marriage, you should listen when they speak of what’s important. I want to share with you some of the things that he shared with us so that their marriage legacy can go beyond the Lawson family name, but maybe bless your marriage, or marriage to come, as well.
He began speaking of how their marriage started. He was a Navy solider, leaving to go overseas to fight in WWII, she was at home taking care of their first child, who was less than a year old. He spoke of how it pained him to step on the train and leave his family behind. They never had a plan. Each step felt like a step in the dark, but he said they never really had to know what the next step would bring. He said they only knew two things: “…our love for each other, and our love for God.” Everything else just seemed to fit. My grandparents never had a lot of anything. They weren’t wealthy. They didn’t own a big house, live in the best neighborhood, or own several cars, but they had love. Love for God and the love they had for each other kept their marriage alive – but not JUST alive – fresh for 67 years. A couple of weeks ago, when my grandmother was still speaking and responding, my granddad bent over and told her, “I love you.” She responded playfully with, “I love you more.” That’s what I’m talking about. Give me some of that in my marriage, because I want to look at my wife after 67 years and say, “I love you more.”
As I experience the funeral proceedings this week, I’m glad to know that I will not have to question my grandmother’s eternity. I’m glad to know that because of the investments she made into her own spiritual journey, and made into my father’s spiritual journey, I have been taught and chose Christ for myself, therefore I don’t have to question my eternity. I am secure. I’m also proud to be connected to a marriage that endured and enjoyed 67 years of love. My greatest hope would be that my marriage would learn from the wisdom and example my grandparents set. That I would love my wife, and love God. I’m thankful for my grandmother, for the memories, and for the legacy. This is not a goodbye…I’ll see you soon.