History books tell of many great people. Praise is given to their accomplishments. However, these legacies seldom ever exceed the world of history. The lives these people led are confined on paper, organized in chapters, and bound together as books. Historians and students study them, as stories passed down from generation to generation. In my opinion, those history books forgot someone. Even though her life may not be recorded for the study of students and the praise of historians, there is a legacy that remains burned in my memory. She was one of the greatest women to ever live.

My earliest memories are playing on her living room floor, while she would be knitting or watching television. She lived next door to my grandparents so I was able to visit her often. She was never too busy for me or anyone else in the family. When I would come to visit she would bake cookies. She knew I loved her cookies. Often times there would be at least two plates of cookies, waiting on me by the time I arrived.

I would always eat as much as I could, at the risk of “spoiling my supper.” I eventually outgrew her toy box but I still enjoyed talking to her. I would listen to her tell stories from when she was young. Some stories were funny, some were painful, some were from working at a young age, and some were from playing with her siblings. She would often tell me how my cousins were doing. Sometimes she saw them more than I did. As long as she had a story to tell, a bit of wisdom to pass on, I was ready to listen. She reminded me of the Virtuous Wife described in .

The older I grew, the more I appreciated her. I began to realize, even though she was greater that “Superwoman”, she was not immortal. As I watched her age, I saw her memory start to slip. Eventually, I saw a child’s mind take over my Granny. The doctors did not call it Alzhiemer’s Disease. Regardless of its name, it broke my heart. I witnessed the early symptoms at the dinner table one evening. She asked me the same questions every ten minutes. Eventually she began to ask who I was. When I told her I was her great grandson, she would apologize shamefully.

My Granny passed away four years ago. I still hear stories about her from people who once knew her. People tell me she was “One of a kind.” They tell me she would put on her earrings and fix her hair to do yard work. Her greatness was measured by her love and dedication to the Lord. She always sought the will of the Lord and looked for the straight and narrow way. She taught her two sons, her grandchildren, and her great grandchildren to love the Lord and to be servants of the Lord. Of all the things she left behind, the most valuable thing was her reputation.

When we think of great people, quite often we think of successful people. There is a danger that lies within this mentality. We commonly use the world’s scale to measure success. We need to remember that the Lord does not use the same scale as the world does.

An example is set in . A rich man came to Jesus for counseling. Needless to say, this young man’s peers considered him successful and great. Although he desired eternal life, he was too focused on his earthly possessions. Christ’s remedy for this young man’s materialistic attitude was to sell his possessions and give to the poor.

What kind of impression do you make upon others? Do they see you looking for worldly success? Do others think your focus is on the things this life has to offer? Like my great grandmother, you too will leave a lasting impression on someone. Will they remember you as one of the greatest people to walk this earth, one of God’s children? Or will they remember a foolish man or woman who thought this world had everything to offer?