Last night my mom and I went to a memorial service for my Aunt
Gladys’ sister-in-law. Although I only
saw Aunt Dorothy a few times a year, she always had a big hug for everyone, a
warm smile and something funny to say. During
the services, her adult granddaughter spoke and now I know why Aunt Dorothy was
such a joy to be around. Her granddaughter
told a few funny stories and then told us she wanted us all to know the three
lessons she learned from her grandmother.
Smile More
The granddaughter’s sister went to visit her grandmother and
was complaining about this or that. Her
grandmother looked at her and sweetly said, “You’re always complaining about
something. You need to stop complaining
so much and decide to enjoy life. Smile
more. You have a beautiful smile. You should smile more.”
Never Hate
Aunt Dorothy did not like the word “hate” and nobody was
allowed to use it when they were around her.
If someone said, “I hate this pencil.”
She would say, “You do not hate that pencil. You dislike that pencil.”
Always Love
Her granddaughter once asked her, “How can you love
everybody no matter what they’ve done?
No matter what awful things they’ve done or how they’ve treated people,
you’re always kind to them. How can you
treat everyone so nice all the time?”
Aunt Dorothy looked at the baby her granddaughter was
holding and told her, “You have to look at everyone as though they’re that baby
you’re holding. When we’re born, we’re pure
love and innocence like that baby. God
created us full of love and things happen to people in their life, but that
innocent baby is still inside that person.
You have to look for that innocence and see it in everyone you meet. Look at everyone like God looks at them.”
Rest in Peace
Now, I know why I felt such peace when I would sit next to
Aunt Dorothy and listen to her funny stories.
She saw God in me. She saw God in
everyone. Rest in peace, Aunt
Dorothy. You deserve it. I strongly dislike that you won’t be around
anymore.
