Faith, Hope, and Charity marked her life

Life when I was a child was so different. Most of our family members were never far away. Some lived in other states, but most of our relatives lived in Maine.

This is a picture of my grandmother and her three children, probably taken in the 1970s. I don't have a date. Uncle Lawrence and Grammie are in the front row. Standing behind Uncle Lawrence is Aunt Iola, and behind my grandmother is my mother (your Grammie Ruth).

Grammie Muriel was wealthy. Not materially, but in the things that really matter in this life. First of all, she had an abiding faith. She trusted in Christ as her Savior and brought His name into every conversation. She was a woman who studied the Bible and who prayed daily for as many people as she could remember. I heard many of those prayers.

She had a heart filled with love. She was very sociable, smiling and complimenting people. She was devoted to her family and to her Church, but that love overflowed to everyone she ever met. My grandmother was very generous and always doing something for somebody.  If there was a need, she tried to find a way to help meet that need. If someone needed a meal, there was always something in the refrigerator or "down cellar". If the need was for a place to stay, her doors were always open. Time after time, she would call someone aside and say, "the Lord wants me to give this to you"  and she would place money into their hands -- maybe $20, even $100. And it was always at a time of need -- and sometimes needs that she didn't know about.

My grandmother radiated hope. She looked forward to Heaven and often talked to us about what it must be like. She was sure in her own heart and mind that a better life waits for those who believe in Christ and trust in His sacrifice for our redemption.

It was always FUN to go to her house. She had a toy drawer in her cupboard and every child knew where it was. Whenever little ones came through her door, they would make a bee-line to the drawer. It was no problem to her, either, if they decided to pull out her cooking pans or canned goods. They rarely bothered her.

Teenagers had a blast at her house. There was always popcorn or other food. We played games and laughed into the wee hours. I remember visiting there and having her take a chicken out of the freezer, defrost it, cook it and serve it at 1 a.m.

I've never known anyone else to be so fun-filled and so patient as she.