These are some memories my brother Tom and I had of our Grandma Scott, who went to be with the Lord in 2007. I shared these at her funeral.

I am Dan, and my brother Tom and I were Margaret Scott’s two grandchildren. I’ve been asked to give a testimony from the grandsons’ of our grandma. Please keep in mind that this reminiscence is from the grandsons’ point of view—not a friend’s or child’s!

This is important to keep in mind, because from the grandchildren’s perspective grandparents can do no wrong. Grandparents have the God-given responsibility of spoiling their grandchildren. I’d like to share a few things that we remember about our Grandma Scott.

Tom and I had a privilege that few grandchildren have had, one that I wish my children could enjoy—living right next door to our grandparents. Whenever—at any time—Tom and I could go over for any reason. Sometimes when we asked mom for a snack and did not get a favorable response, we’d just go over to grandma’s, grampa would say it’s probably time to take a break, and grandma would serve up the cookies and ginger ale!

When we’d come over to visit, it didn’t matter if we were little boys or adult men with our children. She would turn off the TV or stop what she was doing and give her full attention to us and say “well, how ya doin?” or “how’s my boy?” She would sit in her rocking chair either reading or knitting/cross-stitching; books stacked in the corner (I wonder where I picked that habit up from). When we left, she would always say “come again.”

Staying over night was always a treat—we’d pack our suitcases, walk over to her house, and have a great time. Before every meal Grandma would pray for God’s blessing. Afterwards she would read from the Scriptures, and close with prayer again. Later we would watch TV with her— Lawrence Welk, Billy Graham, and even King Kong!

Then there were the “extra-curricular” activities: Dinner at Fables; ice cream cones in the old Chevette; picnics at Coldwater, LakeOdessa, & Hastings’ parks.

We fondly remember our family gatherings, especially Thanksgiving, with her mashed potatoes and cranberry salad. Every Christmas, after a meal of spam buns and jello and opening presents we would enjoy a slide show of the previous year’s events. Tom and I of course would have to sneak out for a “break” of fudge, cookies, cake or other good things!

Grandma’s impact on my and Tom’s lives can be seen in many different ways:

• Our wives are homemaker’s
• As parents we saw her demonstration of love and we learned from her example
• We both live in the country
• We both have faith in Christ

Unlike the attitude of so many today, regular and faithful attendance at church services was extremely important to her—always, morning and evening services, and when she couldn’t go to every service she didn’t like it. When we would stay over as little boys she would take us to Ada Christian Reformed Church, and she always picked the pew that gave the best view of the organist. We would sit with a bunch of old ladies who gave us pink, chalky mints that didn’t taste too good!

Grandma was a Christian—she trusted in Christ alone for her salvation from sin and eternal judgment. On the basis of God’s Word she did not believe that she was saved by her works. In the margin of her Bible at Ephesians 2:8-10 she wrote “we are saved for good works, not by good works.” That passage says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before hand so that we would walk in them.”

From Grandma Tom and I have a precious heritage of one who sought to walk in the ways of the Lord, a heritage that we hope our children will walk and follow in as well, a heritage we pray that you will follow in.