I was taught at a young age how important family is to have in your life. My first lesson was learned when I was eight years old after I lost my father to cancer. I can remember sitting at his funeral being sad, but not really understanding the depth of those emotions. As I grew older I became thankful for this, because when my fourth lesson came around to show the importance of family, I could not imagine having those broken emotions as an eight-year-old girl. I lost my granny when I was 17 years old. She was my best friend. She always knew what to say to me when I was sad. She knew how to cheer me up when I was mad. Most importantly she always told I could tell her anything and she would always love me the same. That was gone now.
Then like God always does, He knew a way to ease my pain. He already had a special lady in my life, my aunt. She was my granny's best friend and sister. He, knowing the amazing woman she is would step in and not take the place of my granny but become my grammy (this is what her grandchildren, my cousins, called her). I would like to take this moment to thank her for this selfless act that I know she didn't even think twice about.
After my sweet granny's funeral, the family went to her and my granddaddy's house. I remember crawling in my sweet aunt's lap like I had done since I was a little girl. Once I was settled, she looked at me and said, "Darling I will never be able to take your granny's place, but I can be your grammy too if you would like that." In that moment, my heart healed a little bit.
Thank you for saying those 23 words to me. Thank you for stepping in to be my grammy when I needed it the most. Thank you for being my grammy now because I still need you. Thank you for teaching me to make peach enchiladas. Thank you for understanding my sarcasm. Thank you for teaching me when it is okay and not okay to swear (hehe). Thank you for coming to my high school graduation. Thank you for always letting me play with you hair from the time I could stand, until now. Thank you for all the talks we have. Thank you for reminding me I can't make everyone happy, and that's alright. Thank you for loving my best friend as one of your own. Thank you for always encouraging me to get my education. Thank you for bringing a man like papa in my life. Thank you for always reminding me I should always find a man as great as papa. Thank you for all the prayers you've said for me. Thank you for showing me how important Christ is. Thank you for showing me age does not define your attitude later in life. Most importantly thank you for loving me.
You mean so much to me. I will always cherish every moment we share together. The good, the bad, and the ugly. I love you.
