When my grandma passed away in February 2019 to say I was devastated would be the understatement of the decade.
This powerfully faithful woman was in continuous prayer over her children, grandchildren, family and friends her entire life. She was in stage 3 Kidney failure for over 30 years and as her numbers would drop lower to stage 4, where she would have to begin dialysis, she and the rest of her friends, family and church prayer chain would collectively pray for months leading up to her next doctors appointment praying function back into her kidneys.
And God did not disappoint. 30+ more years she lived before God brought her home.
I remember laying next to her in bed, with my mom on the other side of her, and I witnessed her take her last breath.
The anniversary of her death as well as her birthday are always 2 of the hardest days of the year for me. But on October 13 2021, what would’ve been her 89th birthday she made herself more alive to me than I ever could’ve imagined.
I was in a rural part of town making a delivery. The backroad I was taking had no shoulders and was very curvy. An animal jumped out in front of my car and I swerved to avoid it and my car became lodged into some gravel road at an angle I was unable to get out of. I immediately began to pray,
“Lord I know you have a plan for how I can get out of this ditch. Whatever it is, let it be done.”
The residents of the neighboring two houses, an older gentleman, and older lady came to check if I was okay.
As I struck up conversation with them, I simultaneously dialed my roadside assistance to get towed out of the ditch. But the nearest place was 15 miles away and my roadside assistance only covered up to a 10 miles radius.
The older gentlemen suggested I call a nearby tow truck company and see how soon they could come out. I knew what my bank account looked like and it would be cutting it close, but I knew I could *likely* manage it. But then I heard the price:
“$500.” My jaw dropped.
“It could be less.” The representative said, “But lately that’s what they’ve been coming out to in that area in the way people are getting themselves stuck. It’s very complex.”
Defeated, I hung up the phone. The elderly lady noticed I didn’t book them to come. So she came up to me and said with a warm smile,
“Whatever it is, I’ll pay for it. Just call me your honorary grandma for the day.”
An explosion of tears began to pour out of my eyes like waterfalls, and I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her tightly.
“You don’t understand.” I blubbered. “My grandma passed away in 2019 and today would’ve been her 89th birthday. If she was still alive she would be the one I’d be calling who would be helping me.”
She began to get teary-eyed herself, and smiled, “I have no doubt that if your grandma knew that you were going to get stuck in a ditch today, she made sure it was right in front of my house so I could take care of this for you in the way she would if she was still here in person with us. God knew what He was doing, and I’m happy I could do it for you.”
I called the towing company back and they came an hour later. The sweet older lady stayed outside with me so I didn’t have to be alone as the afternoon turned to night. The tow truck came and managed to get my car out unscathed.
As she paid the bill, and I got my keys, I gave her one last hug, thanking her profusely for her generosity.
“I’m glad I could be your honorary grandma for the day.” She said, as she hugged me back.
“Me too.” I said, with a smile.
I got in my car, and before I started to drive, I shuffled the music on my phone. “In My Next Life” by Merle Haggard began to play. And tears continued to stream down my face again, as that was one of Grandma’s favorite songs.
Our loved ones may be gone from this life, but if we look for their presence in the life we’re still living, they will show themselves to us. But we have to look for them, to see the subtle ways that they’re still showing their love and care for us.
My grandma is gone from this life, but she is still alive and with me actively in spirit. And as my family and I prepare for another Christmas without her, we’ll know her love for us never died with her, it continues to live on in each and every one of us.
In my family now, any time anyone of us has a need that requires big faith and big prayers, we always say, “We need to pray not just the normal prayers, we need the Grandma Lola prayers.”
I’ll be praying Grandma Lola prayers for the rest of my life, because she’s the one that taught me how to pray. And I couldn’t be more thankful.
andrea statler 