One of my earliest memories as a child was playing tag around an old propane tank at Grandma Langley’s house. It was suppose to be a somber day as it was my grand-grand-grandmother funeral – but we were too young to realize the full impact of such an event. To us it was a day full of cousins, aunts, uncles, great-uncles and aunts and lots of food.
Every since then Grandma Langley’s home was the gathering place for the family. I guess I should mention that she wasn’t my “grandma” so to speak. She was my great-grandmother and a trench-mate in the Lord.
*smile* I still remember sitting on the pews next to Grandma Langley in the little country church in the area. In fact, she was the pastor of the church for many years – preaching and spreading the News of our Lord.[@more@]
As I grew other, I used to sit in her living room and talk about the Lord and what he was doing in the world. In college I told her of my dream to serve the Lord overseas – she was thrilled and encouraged me to pursue the Living God. Those are words that still echo in my ears and heart.
Today marks the beginning of the end of a journey.
One marked with joy, sorrow, happiness and grief. The road was long and hard – but she walked side-by-side the Creator of All Things.
I say that today marks the “beginning of the end” because death is not the end. Jesus Christ has overcome death. Death has been conquered – soon Grandma Langley will rise up once again in her resurrected body to walk among the trees next to the River of Life in the restored earth.
As I write these words, I hear a song bubbling up from within – a song that we sang many a time in that little country church as we fought the Good Fight:
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.
He speaks, and the sound of His voice,
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.
I’d stay in the garden with Him
Though the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling
I love Grandma Langley so much. We used to go see her when I was a young teenager. We would get to sleep up in the attic bedroom. And we played games on and around that old propane tank as well. So many wonderful memories!
And He walks with me, and He talks with me, And He tells me I am His own. And the joy we share as we terry there, None other has ever known.
I am crying. and I have so much to say but no words in which to say it with.
Grandma Langley touched so many lives. I have more memories playing on that old propane tank than in any playground growing up.
Grandma Langley was born October 28,1913. Went home to be with the Lord July 13, 2009. She had 24 grandchildren, 55 great grandchildren and 52 great-great grandchildren!