The amazing Grace

“Grace be with you all.”  Hebrews 13:22 NIV

A dear friend of ours left this earth a few days ago.  Any time a truly special person dies they leave a space to fill that is not a fit for any other person, Grace McGinnis was a truly special human, a one of one creation.   

I met her through my friendship with her son Patrick.  My wife and I have been blessed to know the other members of the McGinnis family as well.  I asked my wife what she would remember most about her and she described the day after our daughter died.  Grace came to visit. 

I mentioned that I know the whole family.  I would describe every one of them as gifted at conversation.  They can draw people in like few people can.  Keeping in mind that no one knows what to say to someone who has lost a child, Grace wrapped herself around my wife that day and just squeezed.  She did not talk and she did not expect Mary to talk either.  She just hugged her like only a mom who has also lost a child could. 

Sometime in I think the 1960’s Grace and her husband decided to buy a cabin in Green Mountain Falls, Colorado.  That cabin frames much of their family history.  When I first started my job, I shared territory in Colorado Springs with Patrick and we got to stay at that cabin.  “Dripping with history” is an accurate description of what you will find when you visit there. 

We were usually the only one’s there, but once in a while a family vacation would be in progress during that time.  They always welcomed me to stay even though it interrupted them.  My first experience with all of them present still makes me smile.  Maybe 10 people all in the same room.  All ten were talking – all at the same time.  All ten were listening – all at the same time.  All ten were answering – all at the same time.  It was a sight to behold, and no gathering of my family has ever been that loud.  Grace sat in her favorite recliner listening and even the memory of that chair makes me smile.  She used shoe laces to tie her chosen pillow to the chair just to let all of her children know not to take it. 

Her children are all creative.  Her husband was creative.  I’m a Claiborn.  We might have one or two creative people in our entire family lineage.  I find it fascinating.  I used to wonder what medium Grace might use if she was as creative as her kids.  Then I realized that her creativity is on display with her kids. 

I mentioned that I know most of her family.  Determined and capable adults sometimes start as stubborn and willful kids.  If all of your kids are like that, you have an exhausted mom.  If you lined up her kids and just looked you would find all of them are one of one creations.  All are great people but they really are not that alike in many ways.  The influence of a mom on her kids is profound, but Grace found a way to let them find themselves.  It is a beautiful but much more challenging way to raise children but she pulled it off, with grace. 

That also extended to her grandchildren and her great grandchildren.  Two of her youngest came to visit her in the hospital with everyone wondering how it would go.  By this time she was almost gone, with no interaction with anyone.  Grace made it easy when she raised her head to look at them and said “Your hair is beautiful” to one of them.  I would bet that neither of those two little souls will forget that interaction.  None of the adults will. 

If you have ever been around as someone is drawing closer to passing away, you see a body that is capable turn into one that somehow knows when it is time to quit.  She looked physically different as her soul left. Patrick was praying with her and they talked about whether or not she was ready to meet Jesus.  She said that she was ready with her eyes closed like she was imagining what she was getting ready to see.  Peaceful.  When she opened her eyes she looked around and asked, “Where is He?” thinking Jesus would be there.  Her doctor walked in and when she heard him, she asked, “Is that Him?”  It is one of the best examples of the childlike faith Jesus wants us all to have. 

Are you as ready to meet Jesus as Grace was?

Her physical heart was so full after decades of all that love that it physically just did not want to quit. 

Challenge:  Is your heart full?  If not, thanks to God’s grace you have time to change that.