My Grandma was a beautiful woman. Lillian Egina Matilda Hajicek (Wahman) Born on April 10, Good Friday, 1914. She died a week ago on April 30th, 2011. I have only had one set of grandparents my whole life, so she was and is very important to me. Since I grew up living close to her, I was able to see her often and now I can cherish so many sweet memories I have with her. She was so even tempered all the time, very patient, graceful, natural, carried herself well, and engaging. Qualities I desire for myself. I was always proud to be with her, whether at church or helping at the nursing home, even at her last assisted living place. She is the type of person that exudes joy and contentment. When you were with her you felt at ease and peaceful. Near the end of her life, truly it was well with her soul.
I feel a closeness to her for many reasons, but some of the things that stand out to me as I reflect upon her life is what she did with her life. She went to college, first of all, and then helped to start what is now Maplewood Covenant Cnurch-by taking the streetcar all the way across town! When she met my grampa she didn't fall over for him, in fact she wasn't even sure about him-he had to pursue her and then her heart softened to him. Then they had a farm together with his family for I think about 10 year until she even had children. I just love her life. I think we would have been friends if we had grown up together :)
As a child her house was the best place to be. Full of adventures and mystery, comfort and home. I loved when we ate leftover cold fried chicken for lunch, with cloth napkins in those cute little wooden napkin rings. I loved dipping my finger in her honey jar and finding the sugar lumps in a small porcelain dish...and never being scolded. She built tents for me with the folding table, we made cookies and the Swedish Duppa, she taught me to crochet. Multiple times. We played games, she taught me how to use a computer believe it or not, and there were so many paper dolls at her house. Sleeping over at her house was so wonderful. I always wondered how she and grampa could each take about 20 vitamins in the morning. But I liked sharing breakfast with them, and I liked her putting me to bed. I loved the sound of her voice reading to me. She would play hymns and sing, and so many hymns I sing now I sing because she first taught my mother and then me.
When I was at camp, she wrote me letters. She even typed some with her typewriter! She was always extremely encouraging to me and I looked to her for spiritual leadership, not necessarily with words but just in her life. Her and my grampa laid a beautiful faith foundation for generations to come. When I think of her, I think of how much she loved the Lord and was devoted to Him. How impactful that love is as it carries down the line of family.
I feel so much love inside of me when I think of her. She was such a constant in my life, that even as she faded away in her short term memory I still found comfort in knowing she was here with me. Now that she is gone, I think of her smiles, her wit that she didn't try to have, her affection towards me, and how loved I felt by her all the time. I really felt so much peace with her. As she grew older and drew neared to her true Home, she often asked the question why she was still living when she didn't contribute anymore. I also told her she contributed just by being alive with me. But as she went on 3+ years of asking that, I began to see and understand her longing to be done with her earthly body that was failing. She lived such a full life, 97 years, of serving and loving the Lord. Him walking faithfully with her and her faithfully walking with Him. That is so inspiring, and knowing that He took her home swiftly and peacefully is beautiful, and makes me love Him more seeing a life lived so well. I have a strange contentment deep in my spirit about her dying, and I feel a sadness of not being able to reach to her-but I feel like that comfort that comes with knowing Christ is palpable when I think of her. Her peace and contentment compels me towards my Savior, and I think that is what our lives should do. Draw others into the peace that passes all of our understandings.
I read this scripture at her funeral (in the middle Aleeya yelled out "Jesus!" by the way) and I think it is absolutely fitting. It is how she lived her life, and the legacy she passes on to future generations.
A psalm. For giving grateful praise. (Psalm 100)
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
