For those of you who knew my Grandma, you know that this is probably not going to do her justice. But I have been thinking about who she was in my life and thought I would share a little bit about her.
My Grandma and I had a very special relationship. Most of my childhood she lived in Florida with my Grandpap (who deserves an article all to himself). They had this relationship that (even at a young age) I knew how in love they were. The way they would look at each other, the way he knew exactly how she took her drink, or when it was time to deal out the cards. You could just see that their infatuation for each other never faded. And he was truly a remarkable man. When he passed away my grandma moved up to Maryland and that is when our relationship changed.
She is one of the most God-revering people I have ever known. And you could tell that even in the midst of doubt (which we all have) she would put her foot down and call out to her God. I guess because I was the only one in my family who shared her belief, she felt she could talk to me about it. And that was one of the greatest honors I have ever had. In her last few days on this earth I spent a lot of time beside her hospital bed praying, reading scripture, and talking about what Heaven must be like. She told me about a week before she died that she wasn't afraid to go to Heaven, just feared getting there. She told me that all she wanted was to feel the hand of Jesus holding her as she went from this world to the next. And for a while, I feared that he didn't show up, but it wasn't until her last couple hours on earth that I knew.
I was able to spend some time alone with my grandma while she was in hospice. I prayed over her, pleading that the Lord would hold her in His arms as she was getting ready to "go home". I sobbed uncontrollably, and that was when I felt her squeeze my hand. It was one of those, "Maura, do not fear for me. I know where I am going and I am so ready to rest in the arms of my Savior". As gracefully as she lived, she died. Ask anyone who was there that day, and we would all say the exact same thing. My Grandma died around 5:30, just in time for an evening cocktail with her Jacks. She died when everyone had left hospice to shower and eat and decompress. She was waiting to leave this earth once everyone had gone, because no good Catholic Woman would die in front of her children and grandchildren. Where is the dignity in that?
This post isn't really going in the direction that I wanted it to, but how do you talk about someone who lost two husbands and a son too early? Who raised 7 children, a school of grandchildren all the while making time for her weekly game of bridge with the ladies? Talk about the socialite.
But I will tell you right now, this is how I know my Grandmother raised her children with the utmost respect for each other and love of family. In times like these, when the last parent dies and the property needs to be divided, funeral arrangements need to be made, parties need to be hosted; these are the moments when most families go nuts, turn on each other, yell at each other, and ruin relationships. Not my family. Not the Murtagh/Burton's. I have watched 6 kids speak to each other in respect for their mother and share their memories of "mum". Yes, we all have our moments of weakness. But we know why one person may have snapped at another, and we forgive them. Because that is exactly how Grandma raised us.
Today is her funeral. It is going to be a hard day for my family. We are all really sad. So I ask, will you pray for us. Pray that we would be okay with crying, that we would love each other in the midst of sadness, that we would feel comfortable laughing at some of the classic "mum stories". Pray that we would feel a peace that could only come from Jesus. And if you are able, raise a class to Peggy Lou. The woman who was always up for a party.
Grandma,
I love you and I miss you. But I know where you are. I am so thankful for you and who you were to this family. Grandma, thank you for teaching me, not just card games and golf, but teaching me how to be obedient to Jesus, how to pray even when you cant, how to be honest when you have doubt. Thank you for teaching me that you can't judge a book by its' cover, teaching me how to share with others, how to love people well, how to share the grace of Jesus with others. I can try to put in to words how you meant to me, but I wouldn't do it justice. I just want you to know that I love you, that you are a remarkable woman, that you have built a lasting legacy in your children, and that you should be so proud of us. I love you and I miss you.
-Maura Moo
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