Oma

Friday evening Drew visited his Oma for the last time. Early Sunday morning she passed away. She was ready, even eager to finish in this life and move on to the Heavenly Home that is much greater than anything we can imagine. And even in a happy death, in a life that was in service to Him we grieve. For in her death was the end of a generation, she was the last grandparent Drew had. We are reminded that life is fleeting, that it is temporary. We walk through our memories together, I listen and hear the stories of her youth. Of a young woman meeting a young man and falling in love. They married during the war, they had children during the war. God gave them strength and courage as they worked in the underground movement during the war. I hear stories of Oma as a young woman, wearing a special corset that carried rations in secret. She acted as a courier during the war, she would go on trains that were filled with German soldiers, careful to move in fear of the soldiers hearing the crinkling of the papers hidden underneath. Her father was a leader in the underground movement and later in the war was shot in the streets. What a difficult time to live through!

A couple of years ago an aunt of Drew's put her story on paper, and a copy given to each family. Drew and I paged through this yesterday and it was a blessing to be able to remember her story. We read of the war, of the courage the Lord gave her and her family, of their immigration to Canada with nothing. They lived in a home with several other immigrant families and they started churches and schools. We read of trials, when Opa was sick and there was no work. We read of hope and how the Lord helped them through these times. We are blessed with memories of grandparents. Our children are blessed as they make memories with their grandparents. She leaves behind 14 children (spouses included), 42 grandchildren and 68 great grandchildren. My numbers may be a bit off as when i go through our family calendar I'm not sure who belongs to whom.

I am thankful and honoured that I could be apart of this family, that i had a chance of knowing Oma, that I have my own memories of her. I pray that one day I can leave behind such a legacy, a life of faith and service.

Ps 121 "I lift up my eyes to the hills where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip - He who watches over you will not slumber; indeed He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you, the Lord is your shade at your right hand. the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm, He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."

And as this week will be full of family and memories, and slowly we are getting closer to holiday time I'm going to power-off for August.

Until Sept!