A Grandmother's Love / A Granddaughter's Legacy

Recently my sister, who lives in our parental home, passed on to me a very special treasure. It is a painting done by one of my nieces in 2004, the year before my father and four years before my mother died.

Tamara, their twenty-one year old granddaughter, created this work of art as a Christmas present especially for her grandmother, or Oma as her grandchildren called her. 

I turned it over, and this is what I found: At the top of the frame she had written a dedication.

Tucked into the bottom of the frame was an envelope and it a card in which she explained the symbols in the painting, all significant in my mother's life. 

It was a message for Oma, about what the painting portrayed. Part of the message turned out to be strangely prophetic:

The shadow represents Opa, because he is now only a shadow of what he used to be and what he was meant to be forever. But in heaven he will be everything one could hope for. He is walking towards you, because he loves you.

Opa (Tamara's grandfather and my father) passed away the following summer. 

In the note she also explained that the eight stars were for her (Oma's) eight children and that the twenty small stars were for her grandchildren. 

She goes on to say:

The crab-apple around your neck is to remind you of how I used to pick the crab-apples in the summer; it brought me so much joy in your backyard.

The key in your pocket represents your faith; it has been the key to your life here on earth.

The flowers in your hair and hands are to remind you of God's beauty; rest in His beauty and love when you are sad or in pain.

The tiny flower in between the rocks is for your baby brother who died when you were young. I remember being so sad when I was younger and you told me that story, because I couldn't imagine losing Daniel (Tamara's little brother). So that flower is so you can remember him, and to remind you that you will see him in heaven.

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD

The woman represents you ... see how still she sits knowing that God loves her. And I love you, too!

For the past three weeks we have been looking after Kathryn, our eleven-year-old granddaughter, while her parents are at work and she's enjoying her summer holidays. She noticed the painting hanging on our bedroom wall and asked about it. Of course she was more than intrigued, especially when I showed her the envelope tucked into the frame at the back. It became our bedtime story that night. 

Kathryn was only two years old when her great-grandmother passed away and cannot remember her, but she has heard the stories and treasures them in her heart.

My mother was a special Oma who loved her twenty grandchildren and was fiercely loved by them in return. Each of them "rises up to bless her" whenever she is mentioned. 

Spending time with our grandchildren on a rainy day at the cottage. What will they remember about us?