My grandma was a one-of-a-kind; maybe yours was too.
My grandma told great stories from a memory that never seemed to forget; maybe yours did too.
My grandma lived long, loved deep, and laughed often; maybe yours did too.
My grandma believed in God and allowed Him to permeate every facet of her life; maybe yours did too.
My grandma lived many years and then she went home to heaven;…..maybe your grandma is there too, in heaven…..with my grandma.

Each morning, I enjoy praying for foreign and domestic missionaries, and so today, when reading over the names of missionaries having birthdays, one retired missionary name jumped off the page—-my grandma’s.   Now, my grandma was not a missionary, but in her hometown, in her community, she witnessed, and she does have a birthday coming soon,…May 14th. Even though this missionary is not the same person as my grandma, they do share something in common…..their name and their witness.
We build memories without even realizing that we are at the time our life is occurring.   My grandma and I share so many memories, and there are several stories I could share.  However, today, I would like to share the memory…..of her going home day.

It was the day before my younger brother’s birthday when grandma became labored in her breathing, when the nurses said, “It won’t be long.”  Her roommate was temporarily moved to another room, so my large, in-number family would have room to gather.  Grandma’s living children were there, my siblings and their spouses were there, my cousin Terri was present, and grandma’s great-grandchildren and great-great little ones had come by earlier to see this amazing woman we called…..”grandma.”
The evening grew late; many traveled home; many stayed; I stayed.  The clock displayed the day of a new day…..March 3rd…..my brother’s birthday and grandma’s going home day.

I was standing near the end of grandma’s hospital bed, and at that moment, no one was seated nearby her side, so I sat down on the edge of the bed…..beside her.
Grandma was so weak, her voice barely audible, but loud enough that I heard every word of…..her question…..she voiced to me.
“Do you think He will come for me?”  I knew exactly who she meant, who “HE” referred to when she asked me her question.  Grandpa had already gone home and so had grandma’s dad.  Some of her close brothers were already deceased.  My dad had too, already gone home to heaven years before this day. All of those men were…..NOT the “HE” who grandma meant.

I knew exactly who she meant, but still, I asked, “Do you mean Jesus?

Grandma, are you asking…..If Jesus will come for you?”

She opened wide her eyes and looked deep into mine as she nodded her head yes.  So many times, I had asked my grandma questions, and numerous times she gave me answers I needed to hear.  Our roles had reversed as she asked me her question….That Day, March 3rd, 2019…..on her going home day.
“Grandma,” I replied, “you told me so many times you were a child of God, and grandma, the Bible tells us that there is never a moment when we are not His (not God’s), once we have accepted, believed, and confessed Him as LORD.  Yes, grandma, God will not ask you to walk home alone…..He will walk you home to heaven.”
That morning, grandma and I made a wonderful memory as we were living life.
That morning at a little after 3:30am, grandma traveled home with God, and it was beautiful watching her go.
That morning, grandma gave me a gift that I will cherish until the day I (too) go home to heaven with God.

The Bible is so perfectly clear.   All the time.  Every page, every chapter, and every verse!!!

“Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are” (1 Corinthians 3: 16–17).

A One-of-a-Kind.
A Great Storyteller. 
A Life of Longevity, Deep Love, & Great Laughter.
A Believer in God.
A Child of God.
A Vessel Where God’s Spirit Dwelled……And Then God Took Grandma Home to Heaven…..on her going home day.
Grandma, today is not your birthday (like the missionary’s), but grandma, I remember so well the memories we made, especially the one made on the day God took you home.
Thank You God for making grandma Your child.
Thank You God for placing Yourself (Your temple) within grandma.   &
Thank you grandma for telling me about Jesus so many, many times, even on your going home day.
Thank You God for saving my soul, for placing Your temple within me.
Someday, grandma and I will share memories in eternity together, as we dwell within God’s presence…..I look so forward to that beautiful day…..my going home day.