My 105 Year-Old Grandmother Keeps Me Anchored

Life has a way of becoming demanding.

Responsibilities. The demands of work and family. Financial pressures, broken relationships, and unexpected disappointments. All of which can leave us feeling like we are on a small ship in a big storm.

During those times, I often find myself thinking about my grandmother.

At 105 years old, she has lived through hardship, uncertainty, and a history that most of us cannot imagine. She grew up in a world without smartphones, computers, or even running water and electricity during the first years of her life. She has witnessed wars, economic depressions, and cultural shifts that have repeatedly transformed society.

Yet through it all, she remains steadfast. When life gets crazy, her lessons keep me anchored.

“Melissa, not every crisis has to have all of your attention right this very moment.”

“Melissa, we must always have a forgiving heart.”

“Melissa, your family will always be here for you even when you are at your lowest.”

One of the things I admire most about Grandma is her perspective. She understands something that many of us spend our entire lives trying to understand: if it won’t matter five years from now, it probably doesn’t matter that much today. The worries that may consume us today don’t “make a hill of beans difference” tomorrow.

When I sit with her, the pace of life seems to slow down. I don’t feel pressured to multitask or constantly check my phone. In these moments, I am reminded that we were not placed on this earth to be measured by our productivity or accomplishments. Instead, some of our greatest treasures are found in relationships, laughter, and shared moments.

Grandma has been one of the greatest Christian influences in my life. She doesn’t talk much about possessions or status. Instead, she speaks about people and her relationship with Jesus Christ.

She tells me stories from her childhood. About riding a horse into town to pick up cornmeal and flour for her family, which she bought with a nickel. She tells me about packing her father’s lunch for work when she was nine, and how she helped her mother with her younger siblings because she was the oldest. And she tells me about walking to school in the morning but rising hours before to complete her chores; including milking the cows and feeding chickens. Her perspective challenges me.

Like many people, I sometimes worry too much about things that, in the big picture, don’t really matter. I can get caught up in plans and deadlines, but one conversation with Grandma can remind me of what truly matters. Family. Faith. Love.Freedom.

Perhaps what anchors me most, though, is her resilience. She has endured hardships that would have broken many people. She has seen much difficulty in her time. She has suffered the loss of family and friends and grieved the death of my grandfather and two of her own children, one of whom was my dad, yet she continues to move forward in faith.

Strength does not always announce itself with a grand entrance. Sometimes strength looks like quietly getting out of bed and continuing on each day. Living faithfully one day after another. I am reminded that if she can endure 105 years of life’s ups and downs, perhaps I can trust God with the concerns of just today.

Grandma is a living reminder that some wisdom cannot be gained from college courses or an online search. It can only be gained through years of experience, perseverance, and faith, and I am thankful that I have her as a guide.

I am so very grateful to have had her all these years, to grow from her shared experiences, to feel less hurried when I am with her, and most importantly, to be anchored by her love.

As I write this today, she is in the hospital with a collapsed lung, but she is holding on faithfully, speaking encouragement to those who are caring for her at this time, and proving once again that as long as she is on this earth, she will strive each day to share God's love and enrich the lives of others.