Did she know how much she meant to me?

Letters to my grandmother (part 1)

I want you to know the greatest love I feel for you, the respect. You have been the greatest source of encouragement and your genuine love is a big source of power for me, through all the trials I have faced. When I was sad, I thought of your love and your hope for me, and it drew me out of the sadness enough to see the hope for the future. When I have been happy, as I am now, I feel pride in knowing that was really your ultimate goal for me and all your children and grandchildren: that we were simply… happy. And I am.

When I was 12 years old, one night that I was at your house, I had a nightmare that babies were falling from the sky, and I struggled to catch as many as I could so I could save them. Of course there were many of them, and there was no way I could reach them all. When I woke up, I told you about this dream, and you told me it sounds like God wants you to know you can’t save everyone. You are only able to help those within your reach. You’re not expected to do any more than that. Your words that day and every other day, are in my heart. Your wisdom and clear focus on what matters in life are a huge part of who I am. I aspire to make you proud. I aspire to carry on your example and your legacy into everything that I do.