Orange Juice, Taters and Summers at the Lake: In Memory of Grandma Margaret
She waved me into a chair, then dropped into the rocker across from me. Grandma’s Bible landed hard on my lap. The old book was thick and heavy. My little girl legs, not so much.
“Open it right down the middle. You’ll always land in the Psalms,” she said as we sat knee to knee. “Let’s go, Kidlet. Read to me.”
How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
I looked up from the tattered pages. Grandma’s head lolled to the side and she began to snore.
Looks like my work here is done. I closed the Psalms back against Job and watched her from the corner of my eye as I started out of my chair. Sure enough, she snapped her head up and ordered my behind back into the seat.
“Find it again — the first Psalm. And don’t stop reading,” she barked. “I’m awake.” For a split second, the corner of her mouth twitched into a knowing smirk.
And then it was gone.
Grandma’s sleeping sickness seemed to strike at moments predictable enough that we grandkids thought we had it timed pretty well. A couple of verses, if we played it right, and we’d be out of the chair and back outside petting the neighbor’s St. Bernard, pestering Grandpa or hunting for agates along the gravel shoulder on the highway.
But me? Clumsy. Seems I always woke her when I closed the big book.
I lost track of how many times I read those first declarations by the Psalmist to Grandma. The words etched themselves in my mind long before I could tell you what was a scoffer and why he would sit where he did.
He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.
Every summer, Mom and Dad loaded us on the Greyhound bus in downtown Minneapolis and we trekked north on Highway 169 to spend a week or so on the shores of Mille Lacs Lake with Grandpa and Grandma.
When they weren’t carting us around to church meetings or real estate deals, we swam. Grandma put on her bathing suit and floated halfway across the lake before we’d ever see her again. Meanwhile, Grandpa covered himself with leeches, I think just to see if we’d scream.
When it came to be lunchtime, we’d all hop in the car and drive to town to dine at the Jolly Viking restaurant. Grandpa knew how to treat us right: he let us order anything we wanted off the menu. (As long as it wasn’t more than a dollar.)
You’d think Mom and Dad never bought me a thread of new clothing the way I looked forward to the yearly trip to the Indian mission down the road to pick out a new outfit. And at the end of a good day of fishing and swimming, we’d go to Garrison after dark for an ice cream cone at the drive-in.
When I was in college, Grandma told me the Michael W. Smith cassette I listened to was the devil’s music, never mind that all he said was “Great is the Lord.”
Still, she’d have none of it.
This surprised me. Not just because the Psalms said things like that, but because Grandma used my sister and cousin and me to pave the way for contemporary Christian artists long before Larry Norman and Keith Green were household names. Jeremiah was a Bullfrog made an easy transition to worship music, as long as you changed the word “wine” to “orange juice” and propped three little girls onto the platform dressed in their mission finest to sing it.
The wicked are not so,
But they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
Grandma and Grandpa watched their programs on the t.v., side by side in their recliners. They had a special kind of love, the kind that was open and honest.
Really open. And really honest.
The kind of open and honest that could confuse a kid who wasn’t so accustomed to open and honest at upper decibels all the time.
After one open and honest discussion, Grandpa went outside to tinker with his barbecue grill. We followed him out and asked him why he’d been picking on Grandma. Turns out he thought she did her best work when she was angry, and he’d seen some cobwebs that needed tending to.
He just thought it might be a good time to rile her up a little.
But Grandpa wasn’t afraid to show his appreciation, either. The guys around my dinner table can still be heard quoting Grandpa after a good meal.
Good taters, Margaret. Them were some pretty good taters.
For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the wicked will perish.
I never admitted it then, but I’m pretty sure I liked reading to Grandma.
Even if she did doze on and off.
And even if I didn’t understand the words.
Maybe, just maybe, I woke her on purpose, so I could keep going.
She taught me to draw, and she taught me to pray, and she taught me to read the Psalms.
Late Tuesday afternoon, Grandma floated across the lake one last time. This time, she floated into the waiting arms of her Savior.
Jesus, and Grandpa, welcomed her home.
Well done, faithful servant. Them were some pretty good taters.
::
Photos: My Bible, open to Psalm 1 where years ago I jotted “Grandma Margaret.”
Grandma and Grandpa, Laura and me at Brim View Beach Resort on Lake Mille Lacs in 1965. (I know, nice skirt and leg kick.)
Aww Lyla! What a wonderful picture you paint hear of a woman obviously loved and who loved much. So sorry for your loss- but rejoice with Jesus and your Grandpa.
You and your family will be in our thoughts and prayers in the upcoming days!
2009/11/20 at 12:05 AM
Lyla:
When we were down in Iowa this past week with grandma as she spent her last few hours here on earth, I thought about the three of you spending that week or so each year with grandma and grandpa up at the lake. Thanks for sharing that special memory.
Steve immortalized some of his memories of those summers at the lake in the song he wrote and sang for grandpa’s 80th birthday 15 years ago.
Grandma said many times that she did not expect to die but would be alive when Jesus returned. She didn’t get to hear the trumpet of the Lord but she heard and heeded God’s call to come on home.
Dad
2009/11/20 at 12:15 AM
Oh how special… I want to be like her when I grow up. A beautiful tribute.
2009/11/20 at 8:19 AM
My dear Lyla ~ This is so special!!! My nose is tingling and my mascara is threatening to run down my face. I hadn’t heard about your grandma and her grand entrance into Heaven. My thoughts and prayers go with you through these days of both grief and celebration. You introduced us to a very awesome woman in this post! And I’m sure we will all have memories of our own special grandmas and grandpas running through our minds. Isn’t it cool that God gave us the ability to step back in time and visit our dear ones through our memories. I trust and pray He will hold you close – just as I’m sure your grandma did!!
2009/11/20 at 8:49 AM
Thanks all. Grandma was a character, but a pretty special one.
Dad, I’m guessing Grandpa Paul was itching to get her up there with him, and wouldn’t give Jesus a moments rest carrying on about some cobwebs somewhere.
2009/11/20 at 9:03 AM
What a great memory – to have a Godly heritage is such a blessing. I’ll be praying for your during this time.
2009/11/20 at 10:20 AM
Thanks for sharing your special memories of your Grandma. Like others, I have special memories of my grandma as well, and now I think & pray how I can impact my grandchildren’s lives with the love of Christ. My sympathy to you and your family as you celebrate her life and grieve her passing.
2009/11/20 at 10:58 AM
Lyla, you’ve given your grandmother a beautiful tribute. I’m sorry for your loss. I can only imagine how much you’ll miss her … for a little while. I rejoice with you for the faith shining in her life and in your words.
2009/11/20 at 11:58 AM
So sorry for your loss, Lyla. Something about those grandmothers–they tie us to their hearts and to the heart of Jesus, too. My Grandma Maggie died of cancer when I was 12. She was a god-fearing, brusque woman who had the most beautiful olive green Bible, with a picture of Jesus on the front. I loved that Bible and longed to thumb through it to see the other aft pictures of Jesus, different from my children’s Bible. She wrote in her Bible, too. Maybe that’s what got me started writing in mine.
The things we remember from those who helped us along the road in our faith.
Thinking of you.
2009/11/21 at 12:08 AM
Thank you for sharing such a great trip down memory lane. Its hard to sum up the influence she has had on our lives in a single blog. It may take longer than the story of Samson.
If my memory serves me, i found a woodtick on my leg right after that picture.
2009/11/21 at 9:39 AM
Laura, I’m not about to give Grandma the Samson treatment. Granted, there’s a lot of wackiness tightly intertwined with the goodness, and far more than a dozen posts could cover. But I’ll let her enter her rest with just the one.
You remember that picture, and a woodtick? You weren’t very old. Sure it wasn’t a leech?
2009/11/21 at 10:35 AM
Lyla, Thanks for sharing your memories with us. Joyce and I will keep you and your family in our prayers during this time. It’s a comfort to know we will all be reunited some day.
2009/11/21 at 1:58 PM
Lyla – What a great story. Reminds me of when I was a kid and would take Aunt Margaret to my church ,when they visisted, and would have to keep her awake during the sermon. I always thought she was going to fall out of the chair. Then we would go home and she would re-preach the whole sermon to the rest of the family, but in her own words. We Missouri relatives are really going to miss her. Love ya, Kent
2009/11/21 at 2:24 PM
Kent, you had me laughing out loud over that one. I’m also betting she had a full set of notes from the sermon complete with artistic doodles in the margins.
2009/11/21 at 3:05 PM
Your Mom informed Marlene and me of your blog. So we logged on here in Mission TX and read your neat recollection of Grandma Margaret. Glad we did. We needed a chuckle or two. You have some fond memories of your grandma that we had not heard. Be prepared to share them again at Margaret’s memorial service.
2009/11/21 at 8:09 PM
Grandma Margaret was a wonderful person who raised wonderful kids and grandkids, am sure that Jesus is having a marvelous conversation with her. Will miss her.
2009/11/22 at 1:10 PM
nice story
2009/11/22 at 6:34 PM
Oh, the memories that Grandma has left us all. I know we all can remember the times at the lake and driving the winding roads just wondering if we would make it home. The leaches that stuck to us whenever we swam and yes, watching grandmas swim and bath in the great Mille Lacs lake. I will always remember the preaching we received and know that she had a great influence on our faith and values. I can see her in her last few years just waiting for her time and sitting in her chair at Crestview playing the bells at one of their concerts they presented, trying to keep up with things in her little book of notes. Wondering if she knew who we were. But if you said one of the twins she would alway know, but maybe not quite sure which one. She will always be loved by all and I know she is welcome in Heaven just as she has always waited for. And yes, now that she is with grandpa I sure the heavens are thundering. I can just hear them. Soooo many memories.
2009/11/23 at 10:43 AM
Heavens thundering, my yes. When she’s not sitting with one of the apostles working out a puzzle, she and Grandpa are hard at it.
“Margaret!”
“Ohhh, Paul!”
I’d like to think there was a bigger party in heaven than usual. I believe they’d been looking forward to Margaret for a long time.
2009/11/23 at 10:49 AM
Oh, bless you, little Lyla.
I can just see those skinny little girl legs under the weight of that Bible.
What precious gifts are memories such as these. (but, LEECHES? just to gross you all out? ew. your grandpa is a dedicated man, no?)
praying for your family as they grieve. Sounds like there’s a party in heaven.
2009/11/23 at 5:25 PM
And now the dozing is part of what makes the memory sweet…
2009/11/25 at 1:19 PM
There was something about how you shared her spirit that let it get right inside of me. Thanks for that.
2009/11/25 at 10:42 PM
Oh Lyla … It’s been too long since I’ve been here, and I haven’t joined in your sorrow (or your celebration.) Thank you for a beautiful, poignant, intensely personal tribute to a lovely lady who led you into the Psalms — led you deeper into the heart of God, perhaps.
I long to tap out words, like you do, to make sense of what happens around me. Thank you for sharing this gift. So grateful for you….
2009/11/26 at 10:39 PM
Lyla, I’ve read and re-read your blog and have enjoyed it so much. You, your sibs and cuzzins have a lot of memories from “up at the lake”. Am also enjoying the “comments” from other bloggers. The week before Mom passed, Leila (Lyla’s aunt) and she were working intensely on the following which we would like to share with you and your bloggers. This was found in one of her many journals. You might think of these as her final words….
“Grandma’s Alphabet”
A = A soft answer turneth away wrath.
B = Blessed are…..the Beatitudes.
C = Come unto me.
D = Do unto others as they would do unto you.
E = Every good gift and every perfect gift comes from God.
F = For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son.
G = Go into all the world and preach the gospel.
H = Honor thy father and mother.
I = In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
J = Joy cometh in the morning.
K = Keep the Sabbath day holy.
L = Love one another.
M = Many are called but few are chosen.
N = Narrow the way.
O = Open my eyes that I may see visions of truth thou hast for me.
P = Died. (her husband, Paul)
Q = Quench not the Spirit.
R = Rejoice in the Lord
S = Sin no more.
T = Teach the little children.
U = Unto us a child is born.
V = Victory in Jesus
W = Woe is me or Woe is you.
X = Exceeding great joy.
Y = Yield not to temptation.
Z = Zealous to do good works.
I miss her very much and am happy she can be with Dad and all the generations before them along with their old friends. Mom always wanted to see the “Holy City”.
I’m sure she can look down on me now and know that I am her daughter and I was there all the time:>)
2009/11/29 at 7:38 PM
Mom, she knows. She knows.
And this is too good to leave in the comments. Grandma needs a guest post.
Thanks for sharing this with us. Love you!
2009/11/29 at 7:48 PM
What an amazing legacy your grandmother left to her family.
Based on love.
The kind that will be missed.
And celebrated.
And reunited.
Lovely tribute, Lyla.
Grandma Margaret would be proud that her girl still reads the Psalms.
Sweet dreams.
2009/11/29 at 9:43 PM