Three2scrap4

January 27, 2004

Give a Cheer

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**Tribute layout to my Grandma J…used making memories printed ribbon, hero art stamp versamarked and then chalked, I painted the embossed paper, and then sanded it down..the corner collage elements are a recipe card written by my grandma, a picture of her with my dad, and a chapter from the book of Psalms that I clipped out of an old Bible I found at the thrift store. the title is based on one of her favorite verses in the book of Psalms,…the journaling on the left hand page is actually an introduction to a devotional book that was written by an old family friend…the book was released the week my grandma passed away. It reads: ***For over thirty years Margaret has been one of my mother’s dearest friends. Margaret attended the tiny church of my youth, and she frequently talked about how much she loved God. She often said, “Isn’t the Lord good?” as more of a statement than a question and spent hours reading her well worn bible. Margaret also seemed to possess a special connection to God, receiving poignant answers to her prayers and hearing specific guidance from Him. She talked with Jesus as if He were standing next to her in the flesh and His voice sounded gentle and kind. As a young teenager I bumped into conflicting feelings about Margaret’s communication with God. I wanted to run away from her. I wanted to be just like her. Although this is a common response to godliness, back then I only knew that Margaret has something I wasn’t sure I could get. To me, she lived “up there” in the mountaintop experiences of apostles and prophets. I wandered the foothills. At the same time, Margaret was pragmatic and approachable. A widow, she struggled with the emotions and practicalities of finances, the trials of raising a teenage daughter, her own shortcomings, and encroaching loneliness. Yet she was brimming with hugs and good words for “folks” and the people easily loved her. How can she be so close to God yet so down to earth? I asked myself, as if the two were mutually exclusive. Margaret’s most profound influence on me-and all those who knew her-occurred several years after her husbands death when her son, daughter in law, and two grandchildren were killed in a head on car collision. In unutterable pain she smiled through the tears and said, “We can trust the Lord.” I could only guess that her straight talk with God was comforting and holding her up. How else could she have put one foot in front of the other? I live many miles away now, but I’m always pleased when Mom says she’s spent a day with Margaret. The two women are affected by some distance and the slowing down of age, so they meet only occasionally, but they are still soul mates. I know their days together are filled with talk about children and grandchildren, projects and prayer requests, and most of all Jesus, who Margaret still believes is incredibly good. Mom returns from these visits happy and encouraged, as she should be. Visiting Margaret also means spending time with God.….from the introduction to the devotional book His Gentle Voice, by Judith Couchman. Published 1998.****On the second page is my journaling…which reads:When Grandma Jensen opened the door of her tiny home, you could feel the love whooshing at you like a warm breeze. I know it might sound silly to say that, but really that is how I felt every time I was in her company. She just loved everyone, and made you feel like you were special. The introduction from the devotional book really nailed my Grandma’s personality. When I read it now I am sent back to when she was in the hospital, I was so incredibly sad. But she would have none of it. “Don’t you know?” she said,” I am going home to see Jesus!” I was amazed then and still today by her upbeat spirit.I have so many memories of Grandma Jensen. Spending time at grandma’s house meant a day filled with stories about what God had shown her during the week, and most likely a crazy tip or technique that she had picked up from Heloise in the paper. The late winter, early spring was my favorite time to visit with her. As soon as you walked in her door, you knew spring would be here soon. The smell of fresh sod and row upon row of tiny tomato plants told the story of her plans for her garden. Spring time also meant it was time for the annual battle with the snakes that tried to creep into her front door. She always had a story to tell about how she had dealt with the critters.Going to Grandma Jensen’s house meant you would no more than get in the door and she had to hurry up and put together something for you to eat. Her make shift pantry in the corner hid bottles of soda, and marshmallow cookies that she was eager to share. If you were lucky there would be ice cream and goop. Above anything else, she loved the people around her, regardless of their shortcomings. She had the ability to see past all the wrong in my life, never judged me, and loved and prayed for me just the same. “I’m praying for you,” is all she would have to say and I immediately felt better. She was never pushy about what she believed, she didn’t need to be, she lived it, and that was a powerful testimony. She always told me God works in mysterious ways, and when I read the introduction to the book, I think that was one of those ways. It was a way to let me know that Grandma knew where she stood; she was ready to see Jesus. She had done her service and touched the people she needed to touch and was ready to meet her King. I miss having her here today. I regret not taking more time to learn from her. I wish my children had the chance to know and love her the way I did, but every now and then I am reminded of her by something my Dad will say, or a mannerism I notice in myself and I know that it is Grandma whispering in my ear. She reminds me that God is good, and he has a plan for me, and she will be watching me from up above.***thanks for looking…sorry it is soo long…Miley

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