But then, like a bolt from the blue, it struck me; bringing untold grief upon me and my entire household, changing the course of almost everything including my initial plans for this scholarship essay. So I am now writing about it. I am talking about the death of my loving grandmother.
Due to her warmth and beauty, my late maternal grandmother could easily have played the part of a princess in any African play, even at her advanced age. She was complete with both the inward and outward beauty. She was always caring and willing to go the extra mile. At one point, I desisted from complaining about being financially broke whenever she was around because I knew she would always deep her hands into her already limited income to save me from my plight. And even when I try to refuse her gifts, her comeliness would prevail over me.
As a youth with so many worthwhile aspirations, I always found her greetings refreshing. Whenever I would return from my various undertakings, she would always there, by the entrance door, waiting to welcome me with words of encouragement, and on most occasions, she had a new name for me. Oh how I miss her keen sense of humour!
The most outstanding of her numerous appreciable qualities was her Godliness. Like a shinning light, it shone brightly for many to see. Even a chronic illness could not restrain her from actively sharing the goodness of the kingdom of God with others. At one time she was spending 70 hours monthly in this work. She was also among the persons that encouraged me consistently and revived my spiritual life, which I now highly cherish.
Granted, all humans on earth have shortcomings or failings; it is human nature. My grandmother is inclusive. Appropriately then, I want to say that by my words above, I didn’t mean to put her on a pedestal. They only reflect the picture I had, and still have of her. For ours was more than a grandmother-grandson relationship. To me, she was a fidus achates.
Although, I have tried to keep my head on, since this tragic event occurred. I still feel the shock. I may have cried a little, but deep inside my heart, the tears still roll and may continue for yet a while, for she had left me with so many tear-arousing memories. Interestingly, she gave me the privilege of helping to inscribe her names on all her new publications continually, for three years running. The last one was a book she received last December and I can still remember that she thought the inscription I made was beautiful, smiled admiringly at it, and then surprisingly, she gave it to me for safe-keeping. Then, I thought it unusual, but now, it is a gift I plan to hold on to until I expire, as a souvenir from a dear friend.
Admittedly, I would have felt a deeper sense of loss, and my whole life would have been robbed of much of its effulgence, if not for the four letter word; hope!
I have always regarded the thought that our dead loved ones could meet us again, in a positive light, but never in my life have I considered it less academically, appreciatively, as I do now!
Like a helmet that protects the head, the resurrection of hope found in the bible has proved to be a protection to my grieving mind. Promises like, “There will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous”, have never proved more meaningful to me. I look forward to the day when I would meet my dear grandma again, in a world, free from most of the ills of this present system. A world where it would be an understatement to describe living conditions as Arcadian or Halcyon, for as the bible describes it; it would be perfect, pleasurable, and paradisiacal!
Imagine, for example, living in a world where there will be no illness like the one that took my loved one away. Do you think it is impossible? Well, God’s word says: “No resident will say I am sick.” How wonderful that would be!
Optimistically, I dwell on these promises with hope, one as sure as sunrise. I ask myself; “Did not the God who made this promise, send his son to the earth to demonstrate on a minor scale, what he would do on a large scale in future? Something well attested to by history, archaeology and the bible?” This God, The Universal Sovereign, signed a guarantee to his promises when he said: “So my word that comes out of my mouth will prove to be, it will not return to me without achieving certain success”.
Life takes on greater meaning, with hope anchoring it. My determination, therefore, is to help as many as possible, to become less pessimistic and more optimistic about the purpose of life. I have resolved to continue sharing this sure hope with others. People need to know that if they and their loved ones lead godly, meaningful lives, they could live in paradise after death!
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