It was the last day of our Disney Social Media Moms Celebration and we were on our way to Georgia. For years, my Mother insisted, almost to the point of threatening, that we all needed to get back to Georgia to see my Great-Grandmother. She’s 98 and hasn’t been doing well health-wise. My mother wanted her to be able to meet MY family before she passed. With my Grandfather passing away almost a year ago, I knew that this was very important to her, and held a place in her heart. It was important to me as well; having my children meet their Great-Great-Grandmother is something that not all parents can experience so I understood the blessing that it was. Little did I know that the person who would be most affected by our meeting would be my own Husband.
My Husband is a born and raised Ohio boy. His entire family lives in various parts of the Buckeye state, and when he moved away from them all to marry me, I knew it was very difficult for him. I especially knew how hard is was for him to move away from his own Grandmother. She’d had a hand in raising him and he’s lived with her most of his life. She’s a feisty and wonderfully awesome lady in her 80s, and even I get upset when we have to leave her during our many trips to visit. I often think about how this takes a toll on my husband; how leaving one of the most important women in his life can sometimes create a depression that I can’t fix.
As we entered my Great-Grandmother’s home and he saw her for the first time, I saw the shock in his eyes. I couldn’t put my finger on why he was so in awe, until we sat down for dinner and I saw the tears in his eyes. My Great-Grandmother looked exactly like his Grandmother, right down to their hands. My husband has always adored his grandmother’s hands. Even when they began to be stricken with arthritis, he marveled at them and loved to hold them anytime he could. When we sat alone at the dining room table later in the day, he whispered to me “she has hands like her.” That’s when I knew. That’s when I understood that this trip wasn’t just for my Mother. It was for him too.
Today I’m linking up with Shell for Pour Your Heart Out. Stop by and see more great writing spilled straight from the heart.
What a beautiful story. It reminds me that I really need to try and get back to visit my grandmother. She is in her 90s and has never met my son.
What a heartwarming story! I love that you were able to stop and that your husband was able to have the connection he did. That is awesome!
Such a beautiful experience! That is so special that your kids and husband are able to meet your great grandmother. That is something I don’t have the luxury of doing. My kids never met even my grandparents, as they all passed when I was just a kid. I would give anything to have this opportunity. I’m so glad you took the chance and that it had such a great impact on your family.
What a heartwarming post, thanks for sharing, I miss my great-grandmother
So touching. I miss my grandmothers and my great-grandmother so much. It’s funny because with my one grandmother, I just loved her hands too!
What a special memory to get to have for your family!
Thanks Shell!
So beautiful. How Blessed you are! I wish I would’ve gotten a change to know my great-grandmothers.
Thanks so much, Melisa. I thank God everyday for this blessing, and this trip.
That is a beautiful story. My great-grandmother lived with my grandmother so I saw her growing up until she passed when I was in elementary school. She was a fiery lady and you could not tell her anything. hmmm, I wonder where I get it from 🙂 That is great that your husband felt the importance of the trip.
Thanks so much Arelis. How wonderful that you got to grow up with your great-grandmother! I did get to see her every summer when my grandparents took me on trips to Georgia, but I think it would have been really great to see her everyday.
Aww, this story gave me chills! What a lovely experience for you and your family! My fiancee has never met my Great Grandmother, and I was just thinking that I need to get him down to see her. I think now I’ll make sure we get to go see her sooner rather than later.
Thanks so much, Brandi. It was definitely a trip that needed to be done, we just didn’t realize it until we got there. Praying that you can go see your Great-Grandmother soon!
Such a touching story.
I like to hear about men showing they have feelings too.
I’ll never forget the week my Daddy died and my husband cried too.
Even though they’d only met a handful of times, my husband said “He taught me how to be a man.”
Thanks Joyce! It was a very emotional but blessed day.
Wow, this was so touching. I never met my great grandmother, but my grandmother – who is 96 this year – tells me about her all the time. I love grandmothers!
Wow, 96! God bless her…and you! 🙂
This is so touching. It is a great blessing indeed. I only had one living grand parent when I was born and she died when I was 12. I have also lost my father. So when I have children there weill be no great grandparents and no grandfather for them from my side. I’m so happy for you that you made the trip and that it was meaningful for your husband as well.
Thanks so much Artlett. I’m sorry for all of your losses. I’m sure you’ll teach your kids to appreciate the grandparents that they will have and treasure their time with them.