Grandma Bell's Tribute

Grandma Bell's I Corinthians 13

And now I will tell you of the most excellent woman.
If she had spare time, it was filled with volunteering somewhere or making things for others. If she ever felt upset for hurtful actions of others, no one ever knew. If she ever felt any pain for any reason she would underplay it or just not let it out for others to see.

Grandma was patient, Grandma was kind. She did not envy, she did not boast, she was not proud. She was not rude, she was not self-seeking, she was not easily angered, she did not keep a record of wrongs. She did not delight in evil, but rejoiced with the truth. She always protected, always kept busy, always hoped, always perservered.

Grandma never stopped. Where there were craft supplies, she made a variety of things for people to wear or use. Where there was spare time she filled it working with and for others. Where there was someone in need she lended a hand to help or an ear to listen. For she knew so many people through all her volunteering that she met up with people she knew no matter where she went in Weyburn or even other cities where people who had been touched by her life had moved. When I was a child, there were many "Grandma things" that seemed to be all about me. When I grew up I realized that her special gift was noticing what people preferred and ensuring that was what they received as long as it was in her power to give. Now we have a chance to honour this special woman who taught so much about life in such a quiet, teach by example manner. Now I see what Grandma has done for so many people by looking to what others needed and no to what she needed.
And now these three remain: perserverance, being productive, and love. But the greatest of these is love.

(This is the tribute that I wrote for my Grandma Bell who passed away on December 3, 2007. At the funeral I was unable to read it, but my Dad read it for me, as well as my sister Stacy's tribute and also mentioned that my sister Selena had done the spray of flowers atop the casket.)