What is Strong?

On Friday I highlighted my moms hair and we started talking about my grandma Darlene. My grandma is really sick and probably won't be around much longer, which is a thought that I hate. If you were to ask me to describe my grandma while I was growing up I would have told you she is kind, she is very generous (giving you the shirt off her back isn't just a phrase for her, she would honestly do it), she is a good cook and an amazing homemaker. My grandma is funny, caring, and protective... When I was thinking of all these things my grandma was my mom mentioned that my grandma was strong. I kind of laughed for a moment in my mind because that was a trait I would never use to describe her. Grandpa John, he was the strong one... He did all of the hard work outdoors, he was the one who moved heavy machines, he was the one who could lift any of us clear up and then catch us; grandma could never do any of that. My tiny grandma who was less than 100 pounds (trust me I know, I always make her let me lift her up and it drives her crazy) is not the strong one. 

After thinking about it a few days I have realized that being strong isn't just how tough you are physically it's about so much more. It's about what you can endure and how gracefully you can endure it. It's about doing things people didn't think you could do, caring for others more than you possibly care for yourself and sacrificing so that those you love can have more than you ever did. It's about being there for your husband of more than 60 years as he slowly dies and helping him the best you physically can even though it has to hurt. By those examples alone, my grandma is one hell of a strong lady. I will always be eternally grateful for her strong example she set for me. It is sinking in that her time here is closing down and I hate it. I guess it's true that you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory. If you are lucky enough to have a strong grandma like I have make sure you go hug her and tell her you love her every oppurtunity you get.

•

•