still work to do

Grandma will 104 on June 10th of this year, she's always saying that she can't die yet because she still has work to do.  Quite honestly I've laughed a little when she says that because really, what kind of work does a woman her age do?  Yesterday God taught me a little lesson.  We went to the temple and while I was waiting for Grandma to finish in the bathroom a woman approached me and asked if she could hug me.  I was a little surprised, I've never met her before, but I'd seen her in the lobby when we came in and since it was the temple I said "of course" and gave her a big hug.  She held on tight and began to cry.  She thanked me for bringing Grandma.  I told her she should get a hug from Grandma before she left, she said she would wait in the hall.  When we finished in the bathroom Grandma and I stepped into the hall and Grandma gave this woman a hug.  She introduced herself and thanked Grandma for coming to the temple and setting an example for her.  I was touched.  I don't know what was going on in her life or why it was so important to her, but she was clearly touched by Grandma and showed me that Grandma really does still have work to do.  People we meet at the temple frequently tell me how inspired they are by her but none have touched me quite like the stranger we met yesterday.

going to the temple with Grandma

I've been taking my Grandma to the temple every other Saturday for about 4 years now and I'm beginning to think that the reason she's still alive at 101 is so that she can get me in the habit of going regularly before she dies.

When we started it was just so that we could spend some quality time together and because she loves it so much, it's nice to make her happy. I really had no intention of attending quite so regularly after she passes away, but lately I've been thinking about it a little differently. We go often enough that we know quite a few of the temple workers and have come to love them. A couple of them recently have said that they hope I'll keep coming after Grandma is gone, and it's made me start thinking about what I will do when Grandma is gone. I have felt like it was a sacrifice of my time that I've made for Grandma's benefit and because I wanted to really know her. Yesterday I met a woman who goes to the temple every Saturday and takes her daughters with her. In talking with her about her children I commented that her children seem to be about the same ages as mine, she said, "oh, I've got ten kids, my oldest is 25"....yikes! I thought I didn't have time! So, I guess I better start thinking about what I'm going to do when Grandma can't go with me anymore.

http://www.mormon.org/faq/#Temples