Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Happy Birthday, Garda

It's Granny's birthday today, February 11, 1923.

She died February 19, 2002. It doesn't seem that long ago.

I was honored to offer the family prayer at her funeral on February 23rd. I hope you enjoy the tribute.

Dear Father in Heaven,
We are thankful to have had the honor to be related to this grand lady, Garda Heaton; one of the few people in life who has mastered faith, hope and charity.

We are grateful for her service to each of us, her companionship, her example, and her unfailing support.

We know she was not just someone to admire, but someone to follow.

Help us to be like her, to trim our lamps so that they produce a little more light and a little less smoke.

May we each take a trait of hers and make it our own.
She did not speak ill of others.
She loved unconditionally.
She hung her laundry in the back yard, keeping her troubles to herself.
She paid her own way.
She paid the price of personal sacrifice and suffering to know the Savior.

Receive her into Paradise, Father.

And may we remember that she worked and prayed for 35 years just to see the Celestial Room and kneel with her companion at the altar of the temple.

Temper our sorrow and our grief. Help us to cope without her. Abide with us, Father.

We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

She was all that and more. One of my favorite memories of her was after Doug left on his mission and I was going to the U. I used to go to visit her in-between classes and we would sit and eat a bowl of raspberries together that she had picked from her backyard and canned herself. What wonderful talks we had! SH

Que Sera said...

I always wish I had gotten to know Granny more. I'll never forget those rootbeer floats though, or her beautiful garden with the swingset in the back.

Aud Pod said...

Thanks for sharing! It's great to think about her.