No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband,  and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.1 Timothy 5:9-10 

Grandma Webb is on my heart this morning.

She is, without a doubt, the wisest woman I have ever known. Her heart belonged to God and she had her priorities in order. When I read that scripture in 1 Timothy, I immediately thought of her. I have spent the majority of my life wanting to be like her.

I remember going to her house and spending time with her. Her house always had life in it, whether she was planting in her garden, taking care of her many grandchildren, cooking up something delicious in her kitchen, studying God’s word or praying; there was always life.

She found her joy in serving and loving Jesus. How many times did I walk into her room and see her talking to God? Too many to count. She set such a good example for me and I’m sad to say, I was too young to appreciate it at the time. When I had a question, she would stop, look at me and give me a real answer. She took me seriously. I know she had so much to do, but she never made me feel like a bother.

I remember there was a stack of letters on her living room table. I asked her about them one afternoon and she explained to me that those were letters from her students. Students? Yes, Bible students. She was teaching the Bible to people she had never met, through a Bible correspondence course. I looked at all the different stamps and addresses on each letter and I was fascinated. How did my sweet little grandmother manage to communicate the word of God to people all over the world? Once again, she was wisest woman I have ever known.  She was amazing.

When I decided to follow Jesus and was baptized, I remember going to her house the next day and telling her about it. I saw a gleam in her eye. I had never wanted to please someone more in my life, than her. I felt a connection to her then, and a hope
that maybe I had a chance to be the kind of godly woman that she was.  Life showed me very quickly that it would be very hard to try to imitate her as she imitated Christ. After all my failures though, I realize that’s part of living on the earth, I can’t do it on my own, my perfection is found in Christ. I’m now even more in awe of her submission to God. She laid her life aside and allowed Him to work through her.

I still see her sitting on her bed, reading the word and smiling at me, telling me her dreams for me to grow up and be a godly woman, a woman who wanted to please God more than anyone else. As I continue my journey, I carry her with me in my heart. I’m encouraged on days like this, when I miss her so much, because I am reminded that I will see her again, standing there, holding hands with Jesus and welcoming me home.