GENTLE AND LOWLY

an ode to my great grandmother

Matthew 11:29 states “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

On February 8th, 2022, at 95 years of age, my great grandmother went home to be with the Lord. I haven’t shared much about my life on here; however, I felt like writing a tribute to her as she was part of the inspiration for this blog.

With her passing, I couldn’t help but reflect on her life. By 95, she had endured a lot of change, happiness, and loss throughout the course of her life. But her love for the Lord and her love for family remained constant.

Matthew 11:29 is the only verse in the Bible where Jesus states the exact characteristics of his own heart. Gentle and lowly. And quite honestly, I couldn’t think of better words than that to describe the life that my great grandmother lived. Emulating Jesus, her life was just that. Gentle and lowly.

She reaped what she sowed in the Lord, and it was prevalent by her fruits. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Gal 5:22-23). In all that she faced, both joy and sorrow, she found her rest, hope, and peace in Jesus.

She was feminine and beautiful, not masked by the filters of today’s society. Each wrinkle and lock of grey hair, she embraced, understanding that aging was a part of our design. But even more so, her heart was beautiful. Her demonstration of beauty on the outside was matched by that of her heart on the inside.

She was simple and hardworking. Never requiring much in the way of living and always grateful for what she had. Serving her Lord, loving her husband, and gently raising her children. She worked willingly with her hands by tending and beautifying her home, gardening and homesteading, sewing garments and quilts, and lending a helping hand when needed.

She lived a life full of love and joy that only the Father could give. A life so simple yet oh so beautiful.

A life that I so hope to mirror.