Mondays with Mom: Losing Grandma

This past week was a hard week on our family. On Tuesday afternoon Mom called me on her way to Grandma's apartment because Joan thought (and was correct) that Grandma had suffered a stroke & was unresponsive. It wasn't looking good. The siblings rallied and we went to the Lord in prayer for his will to be done. My grandma was 92 years old. She is gone now...but her legacy WILL live on in me...in Ascher (his middle name- my maiden name-Grandma's last name)...in all of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Today's Monday with Mom isn't a funny story of rolling beads, the story of how she came to know Jesus or even a story of icy hot & lavendar. This Monday is a hard Monday and so will next Monday. Saturday is the funeral. My mother has a gift of writing and even in her grief was able to put the thoughts into beautiful words. 

Losing Our Mom

Life and death are miraculous events in our lives, but death is by far the most painful for us all. In our heads, our minds, we know “it was their time.” We know “they are out of their pain.” We know “They are with the angels in heaven.” The heart, however, only knows the vast emptiness, the vacuous hole deep within our soul. Memories flood back, always the good memories, and if you are a truly blessed person, and lost someone Godly, the memories are always good.

That’s how we felt when we lost my mom, Martha Turner. That’s where we are right now, with wonderful memories of Mark’s mom, Martha Hardy.  My daughter, Lauren Martha, was named after both Martha’s.

Mrs. Hardy was the quintessential Proverbs 31 woman. She exemplified God and faith first, family second. 

Doing her devotional for family Thanksgiving

To witness the love between Martha and Lee (Mr. Hardy, who we lost 5 years ago) was to feel the uniqueness of what God meant when he defined marriage.  Martha’s family, close and extended, was prayed for daily, and if we had a specific prayer need, Martha was the woman you wanted praying for you. You knew she would pray without ceasing for God’s will.

The Hardys, like my parents, were from “the greatest generation.” They lived through the great depression, WW II, and the baby boom. Mrs. Hardy reused, up cycled, repurposed, recycled before any of those words were cool. She taught us so much. She sewed everything; from clothing to draperies and slip covers. Her cooking …I can taste her Shrimp Sauce Piquant now.

Her children, Mark, Joan and Janet were raised in a Christian home, and in a bucolic neighborhood. The memories they have are priceless and all family oriented.

Mrs. Hardy went to church with Mark (my husband, her son)  the Sunday before she passed away, singing, praising, and refusing to sit down when the praise music lasted twenty minutes!

To all her children, grandchildren, great grand children, and anyone who knew her, each person was blessed to have her in their lives. Now, like all of us who have lost someone we truly love, we grieve for those we lose, and support each other as we move forward with loss, memories, and a hope for our eternal future where we shall all be united one day again…Oh Glorious Day!