August 31, 2018
After over 6 years with Gran living with us, there will be an emptiness when she leaves. I think of all the ways how God provided. What a pure and grace-filled blessing it has been to have her here with us.
I think back to the time before she moved in, and I’m not sure how much longer we could have gone on like that. The driving to daycare, missing Zachary, and a new baby on the way, God knew my heart needed help. So He gave us Gran, the help we needed, so we could be the family we needed to be. So that we could grow closer to the Lord with less distraction.
How different would life be if Gran hadn’t shared the last 6 years so closely with us? The amount of joy and wisdom poured on my boys because Gran was there with them, I cannot quantify it. My mama heart ached each day I left Zachary. God knew that leaving two boys like that was not what I needed. With Gran there, I got to spend more time with them. Less time driving. Lunches at home so I could nurse Gavin. Priceless hugs before nap time that I would have otherwise missed. More meals around the table, less rushing out the door. Less hours doing chores at night or on the weekend equaled more quality moments with precious little chubby hands. Over six years of conversations with my mother (-in-law) that I will treasure forever. I don’t know if we would have ever grown this close in a typical mother/daughter-in-law situation. But again, God blessed me. I don’t deserve it. Grace after grace, mercy after mercy. I don’t know why He chose to bless my family in this way, but I will sing of His praises. Even if He did not give us this, He is still good.
We will miss having her here. Our lives will most definitely feel the hole, but we know God will fill it. The Lord has great plans for her, and for us. Thank you Gran for your willingness to share your life with us. We are most definitely better for it.
Jodi Arndt 