A Tree with Deep Roots




Today in 2017 many people live with only a little understanding of the roots they have in their families. If they know their extended family it's only through occasional family reunions. Many miles and differing lifestyles separate them.

My siblings including my brother's widow live from Georgia to Vermont. In spite of different lifestyles and interests we are glued together by a common heritage. At the center of many holiday meals were my mom's mother and my uncle and two aunts. My grandmom outlived each of her children except my mother.

Grandmom was soft spoken partly because of her personality and partly because of her extreme hearing deficit. My mother made sure that Grandmom had everything she needed. There were things that separated her from the larger world but she was comfortable with those God had placed in her world.

Grandmom was known for her sewing . Often when I would come home from college on break, Grandmom would be staying at the house. One time the day before I was to return to school she told me she regretted she had not made me a dress. Even though I assured her it was okay, I went to bed that night with her in the basement where the family sewing machine was kept. The morning of my departure I was greeted by the sound of her labor. Before I left she presented me with a dress ,

In my twenty third year my grandmother made me the most important dress ever, my wedding gown.
My mother sewed beads on the lace that decorated the gown. No matter how much my taste may have changed over the years when it comes to dresses the taste is sweet as I remember the love these 2 women put into my gown and all of my life.

Over the years church was central in the lives of both women. Even though both women rarely mentioned their faith their lives filled with kindness and service to others seemed to speak of a power beyond themselves. When my husband and I with some friends spent some time at Grandmom's house we gathered each night for a devotional. One night we were asked to share how we became Christians. I didn't expect Grandmom to speak. She did share how she accepted Christ at a camp meeting. Her tears flowed as she talked about her weaknesses as she followed Christ.

My mother joined my father's church after they were married. We went as a family regularly. Even though my mom did not talk much about her faith, she left a simple statement in the middle of a few pages in a journal. Mother stated that as a teen she accepted Christ.

As I think about the stability that my home life had I thank God that He blessed me with these two women who on mother's day and all days looked to their heavenly father.

"Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates."
Proverbs31: 30-31



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