If I only I could express in words my heart of thankfulness for Mamaw Ruby. For Rance, his mamaw played a very different role in his life than most grandma's, nana's, or mamaw's do. Rance's mamaw raised him from age 5, when he moved in with her, until he graduated high school and left for Appalachian State University. What blew me away this week is to think that Mamaw was 70 years old when Rance moved in with her. Can you imagine raising a 5 year old at age 70?!?! Rance has stories upon stories about his life with Mamaw. She even offered to pay him $100 one time IF only he would read a Christian book. Can you imagine Rance not taking her up on that? Well, he did not! He despised reading back in the day but that was before he understood what a relationship with Jesus looked like and before his desire to KNOW Father.
When Rance left for college, Mamaw's one wish was that she would live to see him graduate & he she did! When he moved back to Robbinsville after college - Alzheimer's set in and the past 5 years Rance's Aunt Shirley has looked after Mamaw in her home. Even with Alzheimer's and not knowing anyone - she made us all laugh harder than anyone I know! Often times she would wake up in the middle of the night at Aunt Shirley's hollering for Rance because in her mind - he was still a little boy. I wish so much I could have known her before she had Alzheimer's but I am so grateful that on Monday when she left this earth to be in the presence of Jesus - that for the first time in years - she knew everyone!
At her funeral on Wednesday, Rance shared about Mamaw Ruby's life and I was in awe of the sweet lady that raised my husband. One of the passages of scripture he shared...
II Timothy 1:5 - Paul told Timothy - "When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Louis and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also..." -
With tears, I am so grateful for the woman who FIRST taught my husband about Jesus. The sweet mamaw, with such a genuine faith, that God ordained to look after Rance growing up. Father's sovereignty blows me away.
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| Rance's deacon ordination in October 2012! |
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| Can you believe she is 93? |
Rance posted this on facebook on Monday:
There are so many incredible things I would love to share about her, but most importantly she was like Timothy's mamaw Louis, she was a woman who modeled a life of trusting Jesus in front of me and all who knew her! She raised me from age 5, when I moved in, until I graduated hs and went to app state. She never took me through in depth bible studies but what she did do is engrain in me that the Bible is Gods Holy inspired, inerrant, infallible Word and a life of trusting in Jesus daily is ALL that matters! That investment never departed from me, though I wondered through the miry pits of sin many times, she had taught me Jesus was the Rock I needed established on! Many Godly men picked up where mamaw ruby left off and discipled me, without which I would never have met my beloved wife! And we together will strive to do what mamaw taught me and teach others how to live a life of faith in Jesus! Thank You Father with much tears and rejoicing for mamaw Rubys 93 yrs here, and now an eternity with YOU!
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