Lord’s Day, Vol. 8 No. 50

Remembering Grandma

It was after our last prayer meeting for the year at the Praise Chapel on 9 December 2020 that my grandmother went home to be with the Lord at the age of 96. She is now in a far better place. She is in heaven. My aunty Swee Suan sought the Lord for a Bible verse that best sums up grandma’s faith and life. 

The Lord gave 2 Timothy 4:18 “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

She came to the Lord in 2011 on the last day of her month-long stay in the nursing home for physiotherapy. She recovered fully from her fall and was able to walk again. The assistant chaplain of the nursing home has been sharing the gospel with her in Teochew, her native dialect. I recalled it was on a Thursday when she professed faith.  On Tuesday that week, she was still unmoved. I came to learn that the ladies from our Bible Study Group visited and brought food for her. She was touched. Before her conversion, there were visitations made with her at home where the gospel was shared in Teochew. 

She was baptised by late Rev Dr Tow Siang Hwa in 2013 before her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A gathering of about 30 family members.

Below is a photo of the late Rev Dr Tow Siang Hwa’s monthly visitation to grandma on 11 February 2015 to administer the Lord’s Supper to her.

She testified in Teochew that early every morning, she would call to Jesus to bless her family – children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, before she would have her morning coffee. 

Grandma has been the oldest member of the church. Being house-bound, she was unable to come to church. Regular visitations were made to strengthen her faith.

God gave grandma a clear mind and good memory, enabling her to relate many incidents in her life that lived on in our hearts as a meaningful heritage. We praise the Lord indeed for her life and His blessings on us through her. 

Grandma suffered a stroke more than thirty years ago. I recalled visiting her that day and discovering that she was not well and informing my uncle. She did not regain the full strength on one side of the body. One hand was weakened. However, she was still able to walk with a walking stick. She was always cheerful and encouraging whenever I visited her.

After my mother came to the Lord in the year 2000, the prayer upon the family’s heart has been for my grandma’s salvation. She was the oldest member in the family, most precious in our hearts. Indeed, most precious in the heart of our great God who opened her spiritual eyes.

Psalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

Grandma is now safe in the arms of Jesus. My wife beckoned me to visit her on 30 November 2020 to encouraged her in the faith. She responded with hearty amen to prayer and God’s Word. By the time my family visited her again on 4 December 2020, she was unable to respond verbally although she knew we were with her. My last visit was just after noontime on 8 December 2020. Prayed with her that God’s comfort and peace be upon her. We are comforted that she has received God’s gift of a heavenly inheritance. 

Thank God for giving the family time with her. She was peacefully lying on her bed without pain towards the last weeks of her earthly life. She testified that being able to rest on her bed at home is heaven for her. Thank God for His grace upon her. It brought comfort to our hearts.

Her home-going has granted opportunities to reach out with the gospel to unsaved family members. We have had three days of vigil services that enable grandma’s faith and life to be a testimony of the rich heritage of the Christian faith. Her burial is scheduled at noon today. We pray that the Lord will grant us good weather at the Choa Chu Kang Christian Cemetery. May His Name be praised. Amen.

Your lovingly,

Pastor Lek Aik Wee