I appreciate a surprise every now and then. Thursday, I opened a Spanish textbook I haven’t taught from in years and discovered a card from my MeMama. Written at least ten years ago, my grandmother’s distinctive handwriting surprised me as I quickly read her words- that she loved me and hoped I would feel better soon.
I’m guessing she included a bit of money because she also mentioned me going shopping when I felt like it- to get myself a little something special. Yes, I cried. It really caught me by surprise. I don’t remember seeing this card before. I had just dreamed about her a few days before this. MeMama and I were walking around her old house in Richwood. I will forever hear swooshing sounds of that backdoor opening, me yelling for MeMama and her calling my name. That door-that sound- connects me to a thousand memories, especially those of MeMama and Daddy Sam dancing in their den. In my dream, no one had lived in this house for years. I was sad that this special place was in disrepair. MeMama wasn’t. She said, “JoAnna, this doesn’t matter. I don’t live here anymore.” I love dreams. Even though this house was empty, we sat in two recliners that used to be in her den and talked. I wish I could recall everything we said. I woke up with such peace. It was a little something special to start my day. For years, I’ve taught my students about how people around the world celebrate holidays. We study traditions, food, music, dance, decorations, and customs. I host cultural studies events and kids compare and contrast how things are done across the globe with how they are done in their lives. While I could not host a big event this year, my students still learned. Lucky for me most every kid has seen Coco or Book of Life, but we talked about remembering and why this is special to people who speak other languages. Remembering loved ones who have passed away. Remembering their favorite foods. Remembering things that we used to do with them. Remembering the joy of having them in our lives and celebrating the beautiful legacy they left us with. Remembering and understanding why people in different countries celebrate or honor their loved ones in different ways. My kiddos learned how different people remember and how they celebrate that memory. Is it any wonder that I dreamed of Memama? I had thought about her constantly throughout this past week. People ask me why I like to travel, and I can always talk about MeMama. Even if I travel the rest of my life, I will never see all the places she and Daddy Sam visited. If they weren’t on a plane or a cruise, they were in the car with family or friends going to Athens, Macon, Atlanta, a Florida beach, Missouri… somewhere … anywhere. They were living. MeMama was one of the wisest people I have known. As my grandmother, she understood the value and power of love. A writer Henry Drummond once said this about love, “In the Book of Matthew Chapter 25, where the Judgment Day is depicted for us in the imagery of One seated upon a throne and dividing the sheep from the goats, the test of a man then is not, "How have I believed?" but "How have I loved?" The test of religion, the final test of religion, is not religiousness, but Love…… not what I have done, not what I have believed, not what I have achieved, but how I have discharged the common charities of life.” MeMama knew when to give, to care for, to hold, to cherish, to forgive, and to nurture. MeMama’s carried a fierce love for her family. When she talked, we all listened. Always! She didn’t quote scripture to me or carry on self-righteously, but she was more Christ-like than she probably even realized. She lived her testimony powerfully. Just like Jesus showed his disciples the full extent of his love, MeMama showed her three sons and their families the full extent of her love. Matthew 25 also tells us that Jesus said- “I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me. I was in prison and you came to visit me… I tell you the truth, whatever you did to the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Don’t you see…you can’t give a person something to eat unless you are there. You can’t hold them when they are hurting unless you are there. MeMama’s calling in life was to be there for her family. When I was hurting, she was there. She would not let me hate. Even when I felt justified, she would not indulge me. She expected me to get my education, to work for what I wanted, and to honor my family name in all that I did. She told me to get myself to church. And she taught me to dance, to celebrate! To her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, MeMama will always be... Butterflies and big blond hair held tight with White Rain. Christmas and macaroni and cheese- extra cheesy. Bright yellow and orange lantana. All My Children and pool room hotdogs. And of course – diamonds, lots and lots of diamonds. We call it MeMama love. One of my favorite things in life is being a granddaughter. That is a love that has not changed. Finding MeMama’s card was a great big hug from her, filled with the hope and power of His love, an anchor for my soul. A little something special.
3 Comments
11/8/2020 08:36:04 am
Beautifully written. A very special woman that taught all us to love and care for our family and others
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Julie Scott
11/8/2020 01:09:40 pm
She would be so honored of the way you are continuing her spirit of love!
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Mark Mitchell
11/8/2020 05:15:08 pm
Wow! That one brought some tears for me. She was a dear and special person and we are all fortunate to have been loved by her. Thank you JoAnna for your expression of love for her.
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JoAnna Arnold
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