Anna Bernsee

A week ago today, my Grandmother left this earth and entered heaven.  I can only imagine the joy that she has experienced shedding her earthly body, to have no more pain and suffering on this earth.  Many of you have seen pictures that I have posted on face book of my grandmother.  And although they say "A Picture is worth a thousand Words", there are so many things those pictures didn't show.  My grandmother's childhood was a difficult one.  She married during the great depression which were very difficult days to live through.  My grandparents did not have great riches on this earth.  And to make things more challenging my grandparents took in and finished raising four of my grandmother's siblings when her parents died at an early age.  My grandmother cleaned houses for many years just to help put food on the table for the family. Besides being an incredibly hard working women my grandmother loved people.  She did not live for material possessions but invested in people.  She loved her husband, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren dearly.  She was one of the biggest "cheerleaders" in my life.  I come from a big family and my grandparents tried to attend every sports event, band concert, choir concert, Christmas program, and graduation.  She was a cookie baking and game playing grandma. I can not remember a time when she wasn't there cheering me on.  With such an amazing grandmother she is my role model as I grandparent.  (Since she lived to be 99 what a joy it was for my children to know their Great Grandma.  And even though my grandchildren won't remember it, I am glad my grandmother was able to meet three of my grandchildren.)  But above all, my grandmother loved the Lord.  And that is really what makes her the most amazing person.  Many people start out strong but few finish strong.  I have had the amazing privilege of seeing a life well lived, and someone who finished strong.  I wish I could have been there to hear God say: "Well done, good and faithful servant!