My family recently buried the most beautiful, confident, and gracious woman I have ever known — my dear grandmother. She is my hero and role model, and I pray to have even a portion of the grace and honor and loving influence that she possessed. But, I know a little secret about her that the average friend in her sewing club, the neighbor who received her Morning Glory Muffins, and the visiting revival pastor might not have ever guessed: she laughed at the future.
My grandmother had known and tasted first hand the Valley of the Shadow. She knew God, and she knew grief. She knew that He was faithful and that His love and grace was enough.
Friends knew that my grandmother was a true southern lady in every sense of the word; she dressed beautifully, carried herself with such grace and honor, and made those pearls and bangle bracelets lovely. She faithfully tended to her quintessential 1920’s southern Mississippi home, and she was organized, efficient, and busy. And she was hands down the best cook I’ve ever known (and, y’all, I’m from Mississippi — I know food.).
But my sweet and lovely grandmother was also fearless. She was a rugged, strong, and tested warrior of the faith. I remember telling my grandmother one time that I was worried about something, and she told me, “I don’t worry. If you worry and it never happens, then you worried needlessly. If you worry and it does happen, then you have to deal with it twice.”
This advice comes from a woman who received news at the age of 18 that she had just lost her brother, an officer in the United States Army, fighting in 1944 Europe. This young woman married, bore two children, and then lost her father when she was 27 years old. A short two years later this beautiful woman lost her husband in an airplane crash when my dad was 5 months old. God blessed her with another godly husband three years later, as well as two more children. As time went on, my Mamaw Jane lost her hearing. She lost her mother. She lost her sister. She lost grandchildren.
And yet, in all this, my beautiful grandmother was the most faithful, gracious, kindhearted, and cheerful person I have ever known. She smiled at the future. She LAUGHED at the future, because her hope was in God. She was a daughter of the Old Testament Sarah, a daughter NOT AMAZED at the path which her God had called her to walk. She was like the holy women of old who adorned themselves with a beauty that is very visible, although unattainable by merely dressing and adorning the body — rather, her beauty was the FEAR OF GOD radiating assured and fervent hope in her Redeemer and Savior.
Just as Sarah (Abraham’s wife) was physically a very beautiful woman, even to be noticed by kings, my grandmother, too, was very lovely. (Case in point: In a 1940’s era Progressive Farmer publication she appeared in a photograph driving a tractor; as a result, she received multiple marriage proposals through the United States Postal Service.)
But, just like that beautiful Sarah of old, my grandmother’s beauty was not an outward mask — she grew into a more and more beautiful woman, for she hoped in God.
The secret to becoming a woman who laughs at the future is to become a woman who trusts God without fear.
Fear cripples and smothers a woman’s ability to laugh at the future, for, instead, she fears everything else but God.
We are told that Sarah of old “judged Him faithful who had promised,” and “God is not ashamed to be called [her] God” (Hebrews 11:11, 16). In fact, Sarah named her only son “laughter.” For, although she laughed at the thought of bearing a child at the age of 90, God was indeed faithful to her, and He did turn her laughter into one of joy and hope fulfilled.
My grandmother’s secret to laughing at the future was to trust in the Lord. She judged God faithful, and she knew that He would not disappoint. She was right. Her heavenly Father never left her, He never forsook her, and He has been faithful to His promise to bring her from this earth of pain and death and receive her into the very presence of her Lord.
She laughed and smiled with confidence at the future, and God is not ashamed to be called her God.
I love you so much, Mamaw Jane.
My beautiful Mamaw Jane on her front porch in south Mississippi.
Amanda, I adore your dedication to your grandmother. It is such a comfort and encouragement to know that God maintained her in the midst of the loss of her cherished loved ones. We don’t know what the future holds for us, but we know Who holds it in His loving hands. He can be relied on.
YES!! This! This is exactly the kind of article I’ve been searching for. My blog verse is Proverbs 31:25, and this has been my mantra for the past year. Learning to laugh at the future is no simple task, but your grandma was so dead on with the worry statement. And love the tractor story! Sharing today with my readers – they will LOVE this!
Ruthie Gray recently posted…How to grow your blog and actually see results!
Ruthie, thank you for sharing your encouraging words with me today. I’m so happy to have discovered your blog now, too! I am so glad that this article was a blessing to you. <3
What a great testimony and heritage, Amanda!! Love this story about your grandmother!
This line is really sweet from your post, “The secret to becoming a woman who laughs at the future is to become a woman who trusts God without fear.”
I’m sharing your post tonight on FB! I’ve also pinned your post on my Tailwind account. I hope it will send many Pinterest folks your way.
Hope you and your family have a blessed Thanksgiving~
Melanie
Melanie Redd recently posted…How To Decorate Your Heart With Joy During the Holidays
Melanie, thank you for your encouraging words. And thank you for sharing this post with others. I’m am praying it will bless and serve those who find it! <3 ..amanda
Hello Amanda,
Your parents and brother Adam stayed at our home this weekend in Grayson, GA and it was a wonderful time getting to know all of them. Your dad sent this blog to us and what a awesome tribute to a beautiful child of God. Your Mawma Jane reminds me of my Grandmother, MamaKenzie, who saw many hardships and sorrows in her life but always maintained such a positive and happy disposition toward life. I am glad your dad shared this blog with us. You have a real gift in expressing yourself and I was very touched.
Shalom,
Willie
Willie, thank you so much. My parents enjoyed staying with your family, and I so appreciate your encouragement and kind words. May God’s grace and peace be multiplied to you and your family.
I love this tribute to your Grandmother, Amanda. Such a comfort and encouragement to know that God sustained her through losing her precious loved ones. We don’t know what the future holds for us, but we do know Who holds our future in His loving hands. He can be trusted.
Thank you so much, Mrs. Cathy. You are so right — He is faithful and trustworthy. Love y’all. <3
Your story brought tears to my eyes. Not only was it an amazing story and legacy about your grandmother, its an encouragement and hope for me. Too often i allow all the fuss around me to dictate my outlook instead of keeping my eyes on Jesus and my hope in God. Thank you for sharing with me about your Grandmother. What a precious pearl…
Her life encourages me, too, to keep my eyes fixed on the unseen. Thank you for your kind words, Jordan. <3
This is beautiful! I especially like: “She laughed and smiled with confidence at the future, and God is not ashamed to be called her God. ” I want to live a life worthy of having my children say that about me, too. Blessings!
Kaylene recently posted…40 Prayers for my Husband: His Mind
I want to live a faithful life, too, Kaylene! Thank you for your kind comment. <3 (and p.s. ... I really like your blog!)
What a beautiful post about a beautiful woman. I’m sorry for your loss. Your grandmother sounds like such a special lady.
Tiffany recently posted…Will We Know Each Other in Heaven?
Thank you very much, Tiffany.
That is a beautiful description of my dear first cousin Jane. We are in Nevada, MO and are missing getting to see the family members who have gathered this week.
Love to all, David D and Anne Johnson
Thank you so much for saying hello, Mr. David and Mrs. Anne! You know what a blessing Mamaw Jane’s life was to everyone who met her. Much love to you both.
Amanda, what a beautiful tribute!! She is a wonderful role model for ALL of us. Makes me want to be a better person and to laugh at the future. Thanks for sharing this! <3 Judy
I am so glad you were encouraged, Mrs. Judy! <3 I miss seeing you and much love to you and Mr. Thad.
Amanda! That was a precious tribute to your grandmother. May we ladies (old like me and young like you!) grow into godly women who fear and trust The Lord and laugh at the future!
Hi Mrs. Jane!! <3 Thank you so much, and yes!, oh for grace to trust Him more. Love y'all!
I loved this blog. Reminds me of my grand mother as well. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so very much, Kathy. <3