April 20 was a very special day. It was my maternal grandmother's birthday. Margaret Nancy Ali Arnold. She is the first lady in the photo, with her hand on her hip. The little munchkin is me! The other 2 are my paternal grandmother and great grandmother. Looking back, I realize that she was quite a woman...one that I should aspire to be more like! She was a wife, and mother to 6 kids. I never saw her take a drink, smoke a cigarette or say one cross word in her entire life. She managed to deal with the stresses and day to day tasks with a calmness and strength that came from her deep religious beliefs, strong sense of family, and the love that radiated from her very soul. She went blind from complications of diabetes...and never slowed down one step! She babysat my brothers and I when we were younger and we never even thought about her being blind as a handicap...neither did she. She changed diapers, cooked, and ran her home as she always did. I never ever heard her complain! Even when she became very ill...she was always happy and caring and never let her problems show or get the better of her. Now that I am a mom...I often find myself asking..."How did grandma do it?" She was the glue that held the family together, and the strongest, yet most gentle soul that I have known. What a blessing to have known her, and an honor to be a part of her legacy. I am 47...but when I grow up...I want to be just like my grandma!
Happy Birthday Grandma!
4 comments:
What a wonderful and amazing lady:)
You are so lucky to have had such a great role model.
What a beautiful tribute! You are fortunate to have such a wonderful role model. :o)
a great mother is the one that precisely "glues" the family together. Beautiful role model. ^-^
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