A Tribute to Aunt Gladys

I woke up Thursday morning and started my day like any other. I sat in my recliner, opened up my laptop, and began drinking my morning coffee.  I always click on the local newspaper and after glancing at the news, I go straight to the obituaries.  (I guess I'm making sure my name isn't there.)  But there was a name and picture there that I recognized -- Aunt Gladys.  She was my dad's younger sister and she had passed away at the age of 89.  I must confess that I had not seen Aunt Gladys in the past five years.  The last time I saw her she seemed so glad to see me and I told myself that I was going to make a point of going by to see her.  I wanted her to tell me about my dad when he was a boy and about my mom and dad when they were first married.  I never made it.  I told Bubba that I wanted to go to the visitation and the funeral so we did.
Although it was a sad occasion, it was good to see cousins that I had not seen in years.  We exchanged addresses and I hope that we do make an effort to stay in touch better than we did in the past. Aunt Gladys' obituary might not have been impressive in the eyes of the world, "She loved her family, gardening, shelling peas and cooking for her family."

"She loved her family."  She raised five children, pretty much on her own.  She doted on her grandchildren. She cared for her parents.  She loved her brother and sisters and their families.  She was interested in them all and loved every occasion when they could get together.

"Gardening" was included in the pictures displayed at the visitation.  Some of her flowers were pictured.

"Shelling peas" while she watched soap operas was jokingly referred to as a favorite pastime.

"Cooking for her family" was an occasion for them to be together and she enjoyed that.

The greatest tribute to Aunt Gladys was not in the words of the obituary; it was in the gathering of her family to say good bye.  They were all there with their children and grandchildren.  Not only did they love and appreciate their mother, they loved and appreciated each other.  In the words of Proverbs 31, "Her children rise up and call her blessed."  What a great testimony this is to a good woman -- rest in peace, Aunt Gladys.