Trouble outweighed by love

My Grandma Cooney passed away Tuesday.
Grandma’s health had not been great for quite some time. And last month she suffered a fall in her home and had to be taken to the hospital.
She didn’t have any serious injuries from the fall. But after some tests, the doctors discovered she had cancer.
It apparently started in her liver and spread throughout her body. It was aggressive. There was nothing the doctors could do about it.
And there was no sure way to know how much time Grandma had left. But we knew it was limited.
So when I visited home on the first weekend in August, I did so knowing there was a chance I would be visiting my grandma for the last time. The same was true a week later when I made the trip home to attend the funeral for my Uncle John, who died from complications of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease).
So I’ve been thinking about memories of Grandma.
One of the things that always pops into my head first when I think about her is something my mom and I laugh about all the time. It’s something Grandma said.
“I had nine children and not a one of them gave me a moment’s trouble.”
Less accurate words have never been spoken.
All of them gave her some trouble, some of them gave her a lot, and as a group they created more than their fair share.
But they also showed her as much love and care as anyone could begin to ask for.
Every year for as long as I can remember they pooled together to buy her a big Christmas gift. They were often things Grandma either couldn’t afford or wouldn’t treat herself to. And they always brought tears to her eyes.
As her health declined they took care of her, allowing her to live in her home for as long as possible. Because that’s what she wanted.
And in the last month, when she was confined to a bed because of the cancer that took over her body, they were there. All of them. Constantly.
Grandma’s children took over the southwest wing of her nursing home.
They were there to gently move her foot, her leg, her arm in order to make her more comfortable.
They were there to bring her special meals because she, who always had taken great pride in making sure everyone at a family get-together had something on the table that they liked, was no fan of nursing home food.
They were there to keep her company, recalling tales from years past and sharing stories about what’s going on now in their lives and the lives of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
That’s why I know when this terrible disease took her, Grandma was ultimately at peace.
While reality may not back her up in her claim that her children were perfect, the overall ledger of life proves her right.
Grandma didn’t forget those moments of trouble. It’s just that the other moments — the moments of joy and love — far outweighed anything else.[[In-content Ad]]