What am I thankful for?

My Great Grandma

My great grandma, Mary Strahan, was born in 1915. The Lord blessed her with 97 years on earth. I remembered her sometimes saying that she was ready to be with her sweet heart, my great grandpa who died when I was 2 years old, in heaven but she loved being a mom, grandma, great grandma, and great great grandma. My great grandma had 5 children, 13 grandchildren, 38 great grandchildren, and 4 great great grandchildren. My mom was her first grandchild and my older sister Leslie was her first great grandchild. Having a big family was something my great grandma was used to. She was one of 11 brothers and sisters.

Being from a large family, my great grandmother wanted a large family of her own. She had five children, my grandfather being her second child and son. I remember numerous times my great grandmother telling me stories about raising her children. The stories involved outhouses, barns, animals as pets, snakes, and many more.

She loved being a mom. She was such a strong woman raising five children in the days before any conveniences. How did she do it all? farm, clean, cook, and raise 5 children

She told me how she grew her own vegetables and raised cows, pigs, and chickens. When she made fried chicken, she had to start with a live chicken. I can”t imagine having to kill and clean a chicken. That is a tough woman!

She not only cooked for her family but also neighbors and friends as well.

My great grandmother continued in this fashion for many years. She was the example of Southern Hospitality. You didn”t have to be family to feel like family in her home. She would welcome you with open arms and a biscuit or piece of cake haha.

Sunday dinners “lunch” were a special time for all the family to get together. It wasn”t unusual for my great grandmother to have 35 people for lunch, 30 being family and 5 friends and/or acquaintances. I loved Sunday lunch! My favorites were her seafood gumbo, roast with rice and gravy, chicken and dressing, and so much more.

Sunday dinner was not a time for my great grandmother to show off her great cooking skills but to bring her family together and fellowship.

Holidays were another of the many times family came together at my great grandmother”s house.

A common thread is family.

Thinking about Thanksgiving, I am so thankful for my great grandmother and how she kept her family close. We all have relationships with each other. I am close with my great aunts and uncles, second and third cousins, etc. all because my great grandmother believed in her family coming together during good times and bad.

I miss my great grandmother every day. I know she would be proud of how her family has become even more close since her passing. Sunday dinners still continue but now at one of her daughter”s house. I hope to be apart of keeping the traditions and hospitality.

Psalms 100:3 His faithfulness is carried through all generations.