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An Absent Grandmother's Prayers
I never knew or even met my paternal Grandmother.
This sad reality was partly because my biological father
never claimed me as his child.
It would be much later in my life when some incredible
news of her would come to me. The remarkable
revelation was delivered to me via a long distance phone
call. I was living in Boulder, Colorado at the time and the
'special phone call' came from my hometown- Oregon
City, Oregon.
The call that I received was from my biological aunt, my
natural father's sister. To say I was completely
shell-shocked would be an understatement. After waiting
and wondering for so many years, my reaction was a
combination of about a hundred different conflicting
emotions.
When I heard her sweet soft voice I pressed the phone
close to my ear. She sounded like an angel. The phone
call was a very surreal experience. The entire
conversation was overwhelming for me. During it, I
received something 'unexpected'. It was information. I
found out something I would cherish for the rest of my
life.
My aunt lovingly shared that my paternal grandmother
had known of my birth, and knew I was indeed her son's
child. She had known of my existence all along. Yes, his
mother had known about me.
She in fact had known my name, she had known where I
lived, and she had even known where I went to school.
My aunt said that my paternal grandmother had always
kept tabs on me, asking and inquiring through mutual
friends about me.
My biological aunt further stunned me by sharing,
"Melodie my mother, your grandmother prayed for you
every day. Your grandmother Melodie had a strong
relationship with the Lord and she asked him to watch
over you. Oh, Melodie she loved you so much!"
Her words just echoed into my ears. Her gentle voice
penetrated my calloused hurt heart. All within the same
moment... I felt both loved and felt love for my natural
father's bloodline. The half of me genetically that
belonged to him was now being acknowledged and
validated.
At age thirty-seven I was no longer illegitimate. My
paternal grandmother's prayers had acknowledged my
existence and acknowledged my true identity! Her
prayers had dramatically claimed me as 'flesh and blood'.
She had died without ever meeting me, but she knew of
me and knew I was her kin...her blood. She lovingly
proved this fact by acknowledging me daily in her
prayers.
My absent grandmother's prayers are all I have of him.
Her prayers are the only honest link to him. The divine
knowledge of her daily prayers for me filled me with
both comfort and peace.
Her prayers did not give me my biological father, but
they gave me a family link…a link to her. I know I will
see her in heaven. And I know I will run up to her and
call her by name…'Grandma'!
Copyright 2004, Melodie Lynn Tilander
Email the author.
Melodie is a graduate of the 2TheHeart "Get
Published!" writing workshop! She is now published in
the 2TheHeart book and in the new Chicken Soup for
the Caregiver's Soul! She lives in beautiful Oregon and
you can find more of her writing in the 2TheHeart
archives.
  
 
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Created with love
Made with love July 8, 2004.
Updated March 12, 2006.
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