Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Grandparent(s) (04/03/08)
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TITLE: Grandma's Highest Reward | Previous Challenge Entry
By John Huckstep
04/06/08 -
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I first saw Rose as she tugged four little children into the prison visiting room. She was a frail seventy six year old gray haired woman, she stood five foot five and she was hunched over as if she was carrying a mountain on her shoulders. The children were smiling but it was apparent by the way they were dressed that grandma’s social security check provided very few luxuries.
I watched as she slowly guided the young children toward the metal table and chairs that had been assigned to her for the evening visiting session. They all sat down and patiently waited for their dad to appear from the locked door that separated the visitors from the inmates.
Her Son was in prison for using and selling methamphetamine. When he was arrested the children were found in disarray. The two young females were running around the house naked and two boys were watching T.V. on the couch. The residence was extremely filthy and there was a large 32 gallon trash can in the children’s bedroom that was assaulting to the nostrils.
The children’s mother had died from a meth overdose and Rose was the only other relative that would take the children in. So at seventy six years old with little more than a social security check Rose found herself assuming the role of mother and father to these dejected children. Since Rose only had her social security check there was no escaping their poverty. Life had dealt her a bad hand but I never heard her complain. Frail and weak she brought those children to prison every Thursday evening so they could talk with their father.
I often wondered about the dreams Rose had for her retirement years. She would often say: “Ah, the golden years, What’s so golden about them?” Then she’d gather up the children and shuffle out the prison doors.
Rose died on April 22, 2007. Her son was escorted in handcuffs to his mothers funeral. The children stood around the grave site and watched as their grandma was lowered into a hole dug in the earth. The children are now wards of the state as they wait for their father to be released from prison.
Rose was the epitome of love. She poured out the last years of her life for others and wanted nothing for herself. Like thousands of other grandparents Rose was deprived of the normal comings and goings of grandparents. She assumed the role of mother, father, provider, and teacher at seventy six years old.
Like the apostle Paul, Rose fought the good fight, She finished her course, she kept the faith and her crown of righteousness is now hers (2 Timothy 4:7). The pleasures of this life are fleeting. God rest your soul Rose.
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Thank you for sharing this.