My Grandma- My Example

I had the opportunity to speak at the funeral of my grandma, Margery Woertz, yesterday. It was a great celebration of the wonderful 91 years that she lived. I spoke on my grandma's example.

My Grandma Was An Example to Me in the following ways:

1. She was an example of activity! She was such a hard worker. She would play baseball with the kids and grandkids. She could outride me on any ammusement park ride until she was 75! She was always on the go!

2. She was an example of always having an attitude of gratitude. She was happy with and grateful for what she had. She was always the first to say thank you. Even her last couple days when she wasn't sure who my mom or sister-in-law Camille were, she would thank them for taking care of her and would tell them that she loved them.

3. Grandma never complained or spoke ill of others. Even when she was so sick, she didn't complain. She was continually looking for the positive in those around her.

4. Grandma had a deep love of family. Her marriage and family were always a top priority in her life. When she spoke to you, she made you feel as if you were the most important person at that moment.

5. Grandma set a tremendous example of service. Grandma truly loved her neighbor. When she was asked to make 2 pies for the church, she would bake 10. She was always helping with dishes at every family event and she helped me when I had my babies. When Emma was born 2 years ago, grandma came and refused to let me touch the dishes the entire month she visited. She was such a huge help. I cried everytime that she would leave!

6. Grandma was an example of forgiveness. As the Savior hung dying on the cross, he said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34) Grandma followed the Savior in not holding grudges and forgiving and forgetting.

7. Grandma was a true example of humility and living a prayerful life. Grandma faithfully prayed even for the pigs. Once grandpa was sick and in the hospital when their kids were young, Grandma kept praying that the pigs would stay healthy until grandpa got home. The pigs remained healthy, but shortly after grandpa got home the pigs started dying off one by one. Grandma told grandpa that it was her fault. She had prayed too small!

8. Grandma loved going to church to worship the Savior and she loved the scriptures. She attended the Methodist church where her funeral was held for 65 years. She loved the people there, the bible study classes, and Wesley Weekends. In 1999, two sister missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints knocked on her door- one reminded her of my sister who was serving a mission in Hungary and the other reminded her of me who had served a mission in Chile. She felt like she needed to listen. The missionaries invited her to read The Book of Mormon and to ask Heavenly Father if it was true. Grandma read the Book of Mormon and recognized it as an additional witness of the Savior. Grandma prayed and received an answer that it was indeed true.

How easy it would have been for her to just stay on the path she had been on. She had lots of opposition and was so worried about hurting anyone's feelings. When she told me she was going to get baptized, she told me "I know it's true. God knows I know it is true. I know he'll hold me accountable." She knew in a matter of years she would see her Savior again, and she wanted to be able to say that she had been obedient and followed what she knew to be true. She was baptized at the age of 82! She would drive 30 minutes to get to church for the next several years instead of the 7-10 minutes it had taken her before.

A year after her baptism we were able to see her sealed to my grandpa in the temple for not just time but for all eternity. Grandma told me that she felt like skipping out of the temple afterwards because she was just so happy! There is true joy that comes from knowing that death can not separate us!

Grandma loved the temple and spent her last few years going there often while she lived with my mom in Utah. The temple brought grandma such peace and purpose.

8. Grandma was an example of loving the Lord her God with all her heart, might, mind, and strength. She loved her Heavenly Father and spent her life following his Son Jesus Christ in both word and in deed. Grandma was not perfect, but she understood the atonement. She knew that Jesus had paid the price for her sins and that if she continued to repent and tried to live her life a little better each day that He would make up the difference! She understood the Resurrection and that through the Savior's sacrifice that each of us will someday receive this precious gift!