Grandmamma, she did the best she could.

I remember when I was about 10 years old. Grandmamma had whipped me for something. Hey I got so many whippings back then, I don’t even remember what the whipping was for. I just remember sitting on the ground in the back yard, with two cloth pins in hand. One, I had pinned yellow corn silk, which was flowing down like long silky hair. The other had the brown end of the corn silk, this was short like a man’s hair. I had my own representation of Ken and Barbie.
I remember setting there, banging them on the ground, saying with every thug, I hate her, I hate her. I must have been the stupidest child alive back then. Grandmamma was standing at the kitchen window, hearing every I hate you that I uttered. Well, you guessed it, here she came out of the back door belt in hand. And I received another whipping. This one was deserved.
I’m sure that each of you have received punishment that you didn’t think you deserved. Even get punished for something that was someone else’s doings. And you know for many years I held many things against my Grandmamma. I guess the reason was, I really didn’t understand what she had gone through.
As I have aged, and the aches and pains have took their toll on my body. I have learned a few things. Not only about myself but about her too. She had problems with her neck, shoulders, back just as I do now. And I think now that she most likely had the same thing that I have suffered with for many years now. Fribromyalgia is a crippling disease. The pain never goes away.
I often think about how she not only raised her own children, But she then had to take on the roll of caretaker for me and my sister Jean. Widowed, she worked in Erwin mills to provide for the entire family. I can remember seeing her come home from work, walking down the dirt road. It seemed as if every step she took was so hard. But still when she got home she would fix supper for the family and see that Jean and I had our homework done.
As I think of all this I can not understand how she did all that she did.
No she wasn’t a great parent all the time, but neither was I. All I know is that she did her best. Just as most parents do. All we can do is the best we can. And leave the rest up to God.
After all it was because of her that I attended church every Sunday. It was because of her that I learned who Jesus Christ was. And it was because of her that even though I strayed away from the Lord, That I came back to serving Him again. Thanks grandmamma. You did well. Yes, well indeed.
Until next time. God bless.