It's Not About Me

Praying and preparing for set of lessons for this summer with theme "It's Not About Me," and preparations and Biblical characters remind me of Granny and Aunt Nona.  Both of these dear ladies suffered circumstances that could have left them bitter or selfish, but they served others in times of personal distress with love and care.  They both showed God's love and a life not centered on "Me." 

I knew Granny as the summer cook for us during the summers, care taker of two of my cousins, and the center of her family.  Years later, I met two African American seniors.  Immediately, they asked me, "Are you related to Hattie Evans."  They thought I favored her.  Believe me, I look more like my mother and Granny was a very large lady and I have a smaller frame.  I acknowledged that Mrs. Hattie was my grandmother.  These sweet dear ladies shared with me how Granny saved one of their sons.  The mother was not able to nurse her baby.  It was during the "Great Depression" and milk for an infant was very difficult to purchase.  Granny visited and made sure the baby had plenty of formula.  It impressed me that she helped an African American family in the late 1930’s. She was a strong woman with big heart for all people.

Another story showing Granny's love for others came from Aunt Felicia.  Aunt Felicia told me about the Christmas after her father died.  Grandpa never lived to see any of his grandchildren.  He suffered with kidney problems.  In the 1940’s, there was very little that could be done.  He was sick a lot and suffered many months before passing away.  My father was the oldest son and was eighteen at the time.  Aunt Felicia was ten and Uncle RE was eight.  I can’t imagine what they faced during this time.  My grandfather was a sharecropper.  They did not have much and it was during World War II.  Thankfully, my grandparents had Life Insurance.  It was getting close to Christmas, and the check from the Life Insurance policy came in the mail.  Aunt Felicia and Uncle RE started a Christmas list.  Now, this was during the age when children received stockings of fruit from Santa.  With the big check, Aunt Felicia and Uncle RE hoped to get more.  Aunt Felicia told me about the many things they wanted and hoped to get.  Christmas morning comes, they run down stairs, and the things they asked for were not there.  Immediately, they wanted to know what happened with the money.  You see, the country was just getting over the depression when the United States entered the war.  There were still men without jobs.  One of Granny’s brothers did not have a job and he could not buy groceries or clothes for his children.  After paying bills, Granny purchased food and clothes for her brother’s family.  Aunt Felicia learned that it wasn’t about what she wanted, but what they could do for someone who had less.  A lesson she never forgot, “It’s Not About Me.”

Aunt Nona was number three of the six children.  She married shortly after graduation from High School.  She became pregnant but lost the baby.  Her husband was abusive, and after one of the beatings from her husband, she lost the baby.  This is when Granny learns about the abuse and arranged for a divorce.  People did not get divorces in 1942 and Aunt Nona felt ashamed.  It was during the time of World War II, and young women were joining the military.  So, in order to get away, Aunt Nona joined the Army.  She served until the war was over and received an honorable discharge for service during war time.  She met Uncle George, and they traveled the world as he served in the US Army.  She was never able to have any children.  I always knew Aunt Nona as a quiet person.  Uncle George talked enough for them both.  When Aunt Nona was not able to take care of herself, I helped take care of her.  I enjoyed those years and loved the stories she shared about Germany, Austria, Italy, and England.  She loved touring Europe while they were stationed in Germany.  What made Aunt Nona special was seeing how she cared for others.  She always put others before herself.  In the nursing home, she would help feed her roommate when the nursing home staff did not come to feed her roommate.  Aunt Nona never complained about the care in the nursing home but was concerned about the care of others.  She would give to others and do without.  In other words, she had a heart of sharing and helping others.  She did not live a life of bitterness because of the tragedy in her life, but she loved her nieces and nephews and the children of her friends.  Life for my Aunt Nona was a life of sharing and caring because “It’s Not About Me.”

In the end, life will end.  It is how one lives that counts.  People will remember and tell the stories.  The stories told most are about those who loved, cared and made a difference.  They made a difference because they knew a great secret, “It’s Not About Me.”