Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Uncles/Aunts (04/17/08)
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TITLE: Aunt Ruby | Previous Challenge Entry
By Alice Zvacek
04/24/08 -
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Aunt Ruby loved everyone. She didn’t know a stranger. She was not extremely outgoing, but she was always there to welcome, commiserate, pass out hugs, whatever you needed. Her son-in-law remarked at her funeral that she always made you feel like you were her favorite. Time alone with Aunt Ruby was something to treasure. Aunt Ruby and Uncle Elmo’s house was always full of people, but even a few moments alone with her in the kitchen or as she did chores were cherished. When I was about 13, I got to spend a week with her. There was nothing better. I got lots of uninterrupted time with her and she spoiled me.
She always made sure that we kids had a place. We had a big room of many toys in the basement and mostly had the run of the rec-room as well. She would encourage us to play a board game at the dining room table and usually she came and joined in with us.
She was one of the most encouraging people I have ever known. When she saw that there was something you were doing wrong or needed to change, she offered encouragement and challenge instead of rebuke. I needed to loose weight when I was in junior high, and she challenged me to a weight loss competition. She said she needed to loose some weight too, and it would be good incentive. Now, I realize that she was just trying to help me. We wrote back and forth every two or three days. I even got a phone call which was very rare because we lived several hundred miles away. Of course she let me win and was so proud of the 13 pounds I lost, and she sent me $5.00 for winning.
She always expected the best from us, and we usually behaved that way. Even if we had misbehaved or upset her, she would not have said anything. She didn’t have to be upset with us. We knew that we had disappointed her and put a frown on her happy face. We always felt so bad that we were immediately contrite. I don’t really remember her being angry. She just always made everything feel peaceful.
She was also very self-sacrificing. Aunt Ruby was a wonderful cook and baker. One of her specialties was her pie. She made coconut for my uncle, and chocolate for my dad and cherry for me. She knew everyone’s favorite and made it for them. Yet she rarely made lemon, which was her favorite.
I’ve thought about how I could honor Aunt Ruby. If I took the Christ-love that she exuded and passed even half of that love on to other people, the world would be a much better place and more people would know what it was like to experience that love in their lives.
Aunt Ruby, we know that you’re in heaven now! We miss you, but we know you’re in a much better place. Now you’re able to have your Lemon Pie and all of the other rewards that God has for you. Enjoy them! No one deserves them more!
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