Hi! Bincy, I know just what your grandma was like, coz' my grandma was the same. I have never seen her, but I got to know her through my mom. Mom always tells me about her. So though I have never seen her, I know everything about her. To me she is an intellectual. She never owned more than a single sari. If someone gave her a new one, she would immediately give the old one away to a poor woman. She taught my mom and her siblings how to pray. Mom says she scolded them if they didn't pray aloud and clear. Mom told me that she lost her eyesight by reading. In those days, she could only read by the light of the oil lamp. She passed on what she read to her children. And guess what she read? The lives of saints. Mom reminisces and tells me that under her mother's pillow (grandma), she would always find a little money, a rosary and a prayer book. I know my grandma had to endure a lot, much more than anyone her age, especially since my grandpa was famous for his hot-temper. But grandma was as patient as ever. She was known for her wisdom, understanding, spirituality and kindness. My mom has received some of these traits though she doesn't concede to the fact and she's trying to pass them on to me. But I must tell you, I haven't been very good at learning from her. To all those wonderful grandmas and moms in the world - a big thank you for making us what we are today.
Tina -------Original Message------- From: Bincy Abraham Date: Monday, March 17, 2003 08:52:49 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [JOYnet] Re: Living Generosity Hi friends, when i first read Sindhu's email about "what the old granny had taught her", i couldn't help but remember my grandmother (my mom's mom). she passed away 7 years ago but not a day goes by that my family nor i don't remember or speak about her... she was a wonderful, loving woman who had a tremendously GENEROUS heart!!! she gave unconditionally all that she had and she never looked at who she was giving to or what she was giving but as long as there was a person who needed her help, she just gave freely!!!! there was no limit or boundaries to her sharing-- she gave whatever was asked of her--her time, talents, her love, her compassion, her very self.... my grandmother was very blessed not only to be able to raise her children but she was involved in the lives of ALL of her grandchildren at some point or another and we her grandchildren were blessed to be close to her and to see her carry out her faith in her words and actions!!! i lived with my grandma and grandpa and my mom's younger brother and sister for 3 years in Kerala. this was a very early period of my life and i was between the ages of 3-6. even though i was young, many memories stick out in mind of that time... my mom's house in Ettumanoor is on top of a huge hill... we had just enough to meet our daily needs but all of our neighbors were very poor and struggling just for food, water and the bare necessities.. my grandparents actually allowed our well to be the neighborhood well where everyone could draw the water for all their needs and our pond was the neighborhood hot spot for all bathing and washing and town news... my grandparents also gave part of their land free to this one family who basically had nothing and even gave them the means to build a small house on our property and supported this family and their children till they got married...but all these generous acts were initiated by my grandma. i remember that the kitchen was her territory and as soon as the sun rose, it was filled with all the ladies of the area (chadithee mara)..it was where they shared their lives, their struggles, their hopes for their families.. there was always someone there with my grandma till the sun set.. she would teach them about Jesus and the Bible (she was not very educated but she shared the little things she knew or heard at the homily or from someone--"kitchen evangelization"), she would give them rosaries and prayer books... all the ladies would help my grandma with the cooking and she would give them the best part of the dishes to take to their families and we ended up with the leftovers (now since i was her first granddaughter and since i was left there by my parents, i always got my share and so did my grandpa but my uncle and aunt were not so lucky and were not so happy with her at times..sometimes b/c of how much my grandma gave, she would go to bed on an empty stomach).. if someone needed money, she just gave without thinking if she had any left for her family (it was not like we were rich or anything but she knew that God would provide)...one thing as a child that i remember is an incident in which i was not happy with her...my mom had given my grandma a beautiful gold necklace and i think this was the only jewelry she had and wore and i was so happy to see it on her b/c my mom had given it to her...she ended up giving it to someone so they could sell it and receive the money from the sale and i was so upset with her.. i remember i cried "why did you have to give it away" and she wiped my tears and said "it is only a necklace.. it is a material thing only which will come and go.. but the gifts from God are eternal and will last forever... God provides and gives freely and we should do likewise"... at that very young age, i did not appreciate her words but now i value and cherish them in my heart.... when my grandmother died--the whole town mourned--the number of people who came to see the body and were at the funeral were beyond counting capacity..the poor of the area were in majority.. she was the life of our family and of the town... when we were grieving we were comforted by all the neighbors who shared the many things that she had done for them. one thing i would like to mention, looking back on her life--the secret behind her unconditional generosity was her devotion to Mother Mary who strengthened her spiritual, prayer life and made it fruitful...her personal priorities included going to mass, saying rosary and daily night family prayer which she initiated and she was very punctual and consistent...my grandmother's daughters took some of her personal belongings after she died(to somehow hold a little piece of her to remember) and my mom got her most valued item--her rosary and that was all my mom wanted!!! i feel like all of her children, grandchildren and now great grandchildren are being blessed daily for her prayers and loving works...i know she is a powerful person interceding for us from HEAVEN!!!! i can go on and on about my grandma but i have to stop b/c my eyes are filled with tears...i can't see the computer well... Luv n prayers, Bincy :=) Chicago[IMAGE] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MSN 8 helps ELIMINATE E-MAIL VIRUSES. Get 2 months FREE*. ============================================================================= = This mail is generated from JOYnet, a Jesus Youth mailing list. For more info on the list visit http://www.jesusyouth.org/joynet To unsubscribe from the list send a mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] org To subscribe to the list visit http://www.jesusyouth.org/joynet/join In case of any issue related to the mailing list contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] org ============================================================================= = . 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