Selfless Sisters

This past weekend we celebrated the life of my Grams. My mother’s seven sisters, many of their children, their children’s children, her aunt, uncle, and cousin came from all over the United States to celebrate this day. What is even more amazing, is that because my mother is unable to travel, all of these people came to Ohio from as far away as California and Florida. They created this loving circle around my mother and allowed her to share both her grief and her joy in having been the oldest daughter of Paul and Margaret Cramer. The selflessness of this act leaves me as her child, more humbled than I can ever put into simple words. I spoke at the celebration of my Grams’s life simply sharing a letter I had written to her. My letter sums up best my love and adoration for this amazing woman and for the 8 women who continue to walk in the shadow of her footsteps, exemplifying all that she was and all that she dreamed for each of them to be. I am a better, stronger, more faithful person because I have these amazing people as role models. If I ever doubt the blessings or grace that God has shown me, I can look at this picture of them and be reminded that my Army is mighty.

Dear Grams,

As I think back over the last 47 years of my life, so many memories in my heart come with this vivid picture of you beside them. Even as one of 19, I knew that you loved me and you thought I was special. I also knew that you loved the other 18 and thought they were special too. This was your way, this was who you were, and your kind ways and your sweet heart gave everyone you touched a special sense of warmth and ease.

My very first memory of you, I was three years old. We had come to visit you in La Habra and I had fallen asleep in the car on the way there. My parents left me in the car sleeping (what were they thinking?) and I woke up startled. I looked up and you were peeking through the car window at me. I looked at you with big eyes and you started giggling that Grams giggle we all know and love, and I knew I was safe. I remember being in the bathtub in Merced and you were giving me a bath, and you taught me how to make huge soap bubbles with my hands in the bathtub. You would giggle and pretend you had no teeth and I remember thinking you were so silly and I had such an overwhelming love for you. And over those first few years, there are so many bubble memories. There were special moments just like that, simple things that stand out to me as who you were and remind me that the most special moments in life often have no cost, but come from something as simple as making bubbles in the bathtub.

Over the years, as we grew up, I have so many fond memories of you and Gramps... visiting us in England, shopping for Doulton, hopping from antique store to antique store, and when Dad died. As a 15 year old girl who lost her Dad, what I saw in that first month after Dad died was such a beautiful gift from the two of you. Mom was suddenly a widow and the Mother of two teenagers, and scared. And the two of you, you were more loving and supportive of her than you probably ever realized any one even noticed. You stayed with us for weeks and simply loved and supported your daughter and honestly, this is one of my fondest memories of you. In these moments, I knew and witnessed who you were as people, as loving parents, and as my grandparents.

As an adult I grew to know you and how sweet and silly you could be. I remember you at my wedding playing peekaboo behind the flowers, telling me your hair was resting when we were at the cabin in Canada, and watching you give Joshua a bath in the sink and singing to him. When Grandpa died, in spite of your sadness, you showed such a loving grace. I still smile at the picture you and Gail sent me with your hair wrapped in a towel waiting for me to come fix it for you. You and Gail giggled and giggled when I got there and were quite amused with your antics. Watching the love between you and Gail that day and then the next day at breakfast when you so proudly got to show off your girls to the whole place, it was truly such a blessing. I remember when you came to visit asking you about how you met Gramps. You smiled the sweetest smile and giggled and proceeded to tell me the “scandalous” story of how you would get ready early so you could stand in the window and wave when he walked by. You thought this was quite brazen and the sweetness and innocence of this story demonstrated your total adoration for my Gramps.

On this day Grams, I know how proud you would be of your eight beautiful and loving daughters, and the 7 who selflessly came here to Ohio, so that my Mom could celebrate your life with them. This selfless act, these seven loving women and my amazing and wonderful Mom...these 8 people represent who both you and Gramps were as people. In all that they do, in all that they are, they are each in their own way carrying on your legacy of a walk with Christ. Through each of them, your love and grace resonates in the love they have for their own children. The blessing of the gift of Christ in their hearts and the heart of this family continues on through each of them.

Grams, the memories you have given me, all of us, are priceless. I do not remember a moment in my life where you were not loving and kind, where you were not sweet and silly, where you were not absolute goodness. For my whole life, I will know that I have been blessed you are part of me, that you are part of my story. I will know that knowing you, I have seen kindness and love in its purest most selfless form. And although you were often quiet, and often didn’t say a lot, in your silence you spoke more words than you could ever know. As you meet our heavenly Father, please know that every person you touched is better having loved, and having been loved, by you.




Love,

Kristy