was imminent for years. She wasn't sick -- hardly ever was. Just the fact that her body was old and weary. But she kept living. Many, many times she asked us why the Lord wasn't taking her. It became a joke -- how do you answer that question? Why is it that some die young and some live on and on, even when they'd rather be gone? Our world would tell us that it's because they ate well, or didn't smoke or drink, or some other thing that they did or didn't do. But the bible spells it out clearly in Psalm 139 -- "You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed." (vs. 16)
106th birthday, 2007
Mabel came from very 'good stock' -- most of the women in her family lived to their hundreds, some beyond (Aunt Georgie -- her sister -- lived past 102 years *edited: actually, Georgie lived just past 100 years), some almost to 100 (my grandmother, their sister Lillian, lived until 3 weeks before her 100th birthday), and some well into their '80s (Mabel's twin sister, Winnie, died in her late '80s). As a family we got pretty good at celebrating these birthdays, many times with media coverage. We also knew all about the certificates given by the various government officials when one reaches certain age goals. Those plaques were in each of their homes!
I remember when Andrew & I were dating in the 1980s and I told him about my three great aunts and my grandmother. At that time the great-aunts lived together and looked after each other. The youngest was in her '80s and she was 'looking after' the older two!! I was used to the idea but it was hilarious to him! We'd go to visit them and Andrew would laugh at how they were Toronto Maple Leaf fans and how they could tell you how the Leafs were doing and how they could/should improve their game, who they should trade etc. In fact, at the nursing home that Mabel lived in during the last few years, they'd decorate with Toronto Maple Leaf memorabilia on Mabel's birthday, even bringing a Maple Leaf jersey for Mabel to wear! There was a Maple Leaf flag above Mabel's bed in her room!
These women were funny, witty, and very healthy. My grandmother lived in her own home away from her sisters, and she was in her '90s at that time (for a long while my aunt lived with her and then she lived alone). I don't think that Andrew had ever seen so many old relatives in one place! The family gatherings were loud, boisterous occasions -- certainly not somber, quiet affairs!
One thing that I remember about visiting my grandmother and aunts when I was much younger is that, at that time, they all lived one street over from one another. Both of their backyards had an alleyway behind them with a little garage-type building so you could go from one backyard, across the alleyway and into someone else's backyard! It was pretty neat to me as a child. I was always impressed at how they took frequent jaunts to visit one another, admire the flowers growing in their backyards and have a cup of tea together. What a life! They weren't stuck up, serious women but rather funny and fun women. They enjoyed life.
Another memory is how they dressed. Usually they were in simple dresses, "house dresses" if there's such a thing today, but they had strands of pearls (fake I think) or other 'jewels' around their necks. If they liked it, they wore it. It didn't matter if it was in style or not! Often in winter we'd see them with fur coats or some sort of dressy coat. Aunt Georgie especially always had bright nail polish on and red rouge cheeks. Her cheeks were like those countryish dolls that you see, with two round dollops of rouge on each cheek. I'm sure they would have been a cosmetician's nightmare, but they were Aunt Georgie through and through.
Their houses weren't overly fancy but they were cozy. And I'm pretty sure that tea was always on or would be put on whenever someone popped by. It seemed to me that they didn't care how they looked or what they were busy with -- there was always time for a cup of tea.
So now that generation is completely gone. Many families don't have generations lasting for as long as we did and we're so very thankful. It feels strange that all of these ladies have gone on to their eternal lives.
One thing that I didn't see in these ladies lives was a love for the Lord. Not that they didn't love the Lord, but it wasn't evident to me and it wasn't something that jumped at you from their lives. I know that Mabel professed to be a Christian and my grandmother and Aunt Georgie said that they loved the Lord too. But it wasn't something that you heard them speak of or that you saw from their lives. It wasn't something that was unmistakable. I didn't see opened bibles in their homes, but that doesn't mean that they weren't there. I don't ever recall eating a meal there, so I don't recall praying at their homes. They lived moral lives, and grew up in an era where most people were moral, at least from the outside. As far as I know, they all belonged to churches and attended when they were younger, but I don't know how much. I didn't hear them speak of an active church life. From what I remember, these ladies spoke of knowing the Lord and of going to heaven, and we have to rest in the comfort of that.
I just read this prayer on a friend's blog and it really spoke to me -- this is what I wish my life to be. I hope and pray that there may be no mistake about Who I serve. And may there be no mistake about where I'm headed when I die. I always say that I want to know that I know that I know -- about everything, especially spiritual things. And if I become known as a fanatic for Jesus -- what better compliment can there be?
May God bless you in your life. Enjoy it. And know where you're going -- it has eternal consequences.
I remember when Andrew & I were dating in the 1980s and I told him about my three great aunts and my grandmother. At that time the great-aunts lived together and looked after each other. The youngest was in her '80s and she was 'looking after' the older two!! I was used to the idea but it was hilarious to him! We'd go to visit them and Andrew would laugh at how they were Toronto Maple Leaf fans and how they could tell you how the Leafs were doing and how they could/should improve their game, who they should trade etc. In fact, at the nursing home that Mabel lived in during the last few years, they'd decorate with Toronto Maple Leaf memorabilia on Mabel's birthday, even bringing a Maple Leaf jersey for Mabel to wear! There was a Maple Leaf flag above Mabel's bed in her room!
These women were funny, witty, and very healthy. My grandmother lived in her own home away from her sisters, and she was in her '90s at that time (for a long while my aunt lived with her and then she lived alone). I don't think that Andrew had ever seen so many old relatives in one place! The family gatherings were loud, boisterous occasions -- certainly not somber, quiet affairs!
One thing that I remember about visiting my grandmother and aunts when I was much younger is that, at that time, they all lived one street over from one another. Both of their backyards had an alleyway behind them with a little garage-type building so you could go from one backyard, across the alleyway and into someone else's backyard! It was pretty neat to me as a child. I was always impressed at how they took frequent jaunts to visit one another, admire the flowers growing in their backyards and have a cup of tea together. What a life! They weren't stuck up, serious women but rather funny and fun women. They enjoyed life.
Another memory is how they dressed. Usually they were in simple dresses, "house dresses" if there's such a thing today, but they had strands of pearls (fake I think) or other 'jewels' around their necks. If they liked it, they wore it. It didn't matter if it was in style or not! Often in winter we'd see them with fur coats or some sort of dressy coat. Aunt Georgie especially always had bright nail polish on and red rouge cheeks. Her cheeks were like those countryish dolls that you see, with two round dollops of rouge on each cheek. I'm sure they would have been a cosmetician's nightmare, but they were Aunt Georgie through and through.
Their houses weren't overly fancy but they were cozy. And I'm pretty sure that tea was always on or would be put on whenever someone popped by. It seemed to me that they didn't care how they looked or what they were busy with -- there was always time for a cup of tea.
So now that generation is completely gone. Many families don't have generations lasting for as long as we did and we're so very thankful. It feels strange that all of these ladies have gone on to their eternal lives.
One thing that I didn't see in these ladies lives was a love for the Lord. Not that they didn't love the Lord, but it wasn't evident to me and it wasn't something that jumped at you from their lives. I know that Mabel professed to be a Christian and my grandmother and Aunt Georgie said that they loved the Lord too. But it wasn't something that you heard them speak of or that you saw from their lives. It wasn't something that was unmistakable. I didn't see opened bibles in their homes, but that doesn't mean that they weren't there. I don't ever recall eating a meal there, so I don't recall praying at their homes. They lived moral lives, and grew up in an era where most people were moral, at least from the outside. As far as I know, they all belonged to churches and attended when they were younger, but I don't know how much. I didn't hear them speak of an active church life. From what I remember, these ladies spoke of knowing the Lord and of going to heaven, and we have to rest in the comfort of that.
I just read this prayer on a friend's blog and it really spoke to me -- this is what I wish my life to be. I hope and pray that there may be no mistake about Who I serve. And may there be no mistake about where I'm headed when I die. I always say that I want to know that I know that I know -- about everything, especially spiritual things. And if I become known as a fanatic for Jesus -- what better compliment can there be?
May God bless you in your life. Enjoy it. And know where you're going -- it has eternal consequences.
Lord of immortality,
before whom angels bow and archangels veil their faces,
enable me to serve Thee with reverence and godly fear.
Thou who art Spirit and requirest truth in the inward parts,
help me to worship Thee in spirit and in truth.
Thou who art righteous,
let me not harbour sin in my heart,
or indulge a worldly temper,
or seek satisfaction in things that perish.
I hasten towards an hour when earthly pursuits and possessions will appear vain,
when it will be indifferent
whether I have been rich or poor,
successful or disappointed, admired or despised.
But it will be of eternal moment that I have mourned for sin,
hungered and thirsted after righteousness,
loved the Lord Jesus in sincerity,
gloried in His cross.
May these objects engross my chief solicitude!
Produce in me those principles and dispositions
that make Thy service perfect freedom.
Expel from my mind all sinful fear and shame,
so that with firmness and courage
I may confess the Redeemer before men,
go forth with Him hearing His reproach,
be zealous with His knowledge,
be filled with His wisdom,
walk with His circumspection,
ask counsel of Him in all things,
repair to the Scriptures for His orders,
stay my mind on His peace,
knowing that nothing can befall me without His permission,
appointment and administration
~~Puritan Prayer
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