My last memory of him is his cold, motionless body lying in the wooden casket. On our way to the funeral home, I felt the endless stream of tears running down my face. I did not know how I was going to face seeing my granddad dead, without his sun-kissed tan face and his silly grin that always made me smile. Not a single word came out of anyone’s mouth in the car. The already long five-hour drive to Dougherty, Texas, felt like twenty hours. With the dog sitting in my lap, I just stared out the window and cried the entire way there.
Without the most loving, strongest, and wisest woman in my life, I do not think I could have made it through that depressing weekend. I did not understand why God would take him from me; there were so many things that I wanted him to see me accomplish and celebrate with me. Through this time of agony and sadness, my mom prayed for me and was always there for me. She was the rock of our family during a rough patch in our lives.
She continually encouraged us to go to church and seek our peace and comfort in God. This would have been an extremely easy time for her to be upset with God, just like the rest of us, and use the death of a loved one as an excuse to stop pursuing Christ. Instead of feeling sad for herself, she chose to remember all the good times; she knew that he was in a better place now, and for that, we should be rejoicing. My mom understood there is a time to grieve, but eventually, you have to continue living your life. Through this experience, she taught me how to have faith in God and how to be strong in a time of personal crisis.
Without the strength and love of my mother, I would not be who I am today. I am so thankful for her and the person she is. I could not imagine what my life would look like without her. Everyone deserves to have an amazing mother or father who loves them and continues to look out for them. Having a dedicated parent in your life will change how you look at certain things in this crazy, messed up world.
My mom makes me want to become an unselfish person who always puts others first. I hope someday I can influence my children as much as my mom influenced me. She has shown me how to endure, even in very challenging circumstances, and always knows the right words to say during a difficult time. I have learned many great qualities from my mom, and I know that I can always look up to her.