Because He Lives
God sent his son
They called him Jesus
He came to love
Heal and forgive
He lived and died
To buy my pardon
An empty grave
Is there to prove
My Savior lives
(Chorus)
Because he lives
I can face tomorrow
Because he lives
All fear is gone
Because I know
He holds the future
And life is worth the living
Just because he lives
How sweet to hold
A newborn baby
And feel the pride
And joy he gives
But greater still
The calm assurance
This child can face
Uncertain days
Just Because he lives
And then one day
I'll cross the river
I'll fight life's final war with pain
And then as death
Gives way to victory
I'll see the lights
Of glory and
I'll know he lives
This morning, as I rocked my little girl to sleep, I was reminded of my grandmother, Maw Maw "Coot" Jones, who passed away two years ago today. Since she went to be with Jesus, I've been overwhelmed with sadness at the thought that my children would never know her. I do remind myself that she is with Jesus, which in and of itself is enough to make me smile even in the sadness of knowing she won't be here to meet the little girl I'm rocking. She was a wonderful woman, and there are so many things that remind me of her.
She used to make the most incredible food. Cornbread, fried chicken, pot roast on Sundays, crispy bacon and chocolate cake (to name a few). Many of you have never had her from scratch chocolate cake, but let me tell you it was THE best! Some of you have had the strawberry cake/cupcakes that I make which is also something she made for us, but let me tell you. Nothing compares to this chocolate cake! We would look forward to birthdays because we knew it meant chocolate cake. One time, I think she even traveled to visit in Arkansas with it. But I could be making that up because that's how much anticipation there was for this cake. When I was in college, I decided I would make said chocolate cake. Well, let's just say it ended with the fire alarm going off and the ADT alarm system people calling to make sure I was okay. And I'm a GOOD cook! Apparently, the recipe had been transferred to my cookbook incorrectly. Once I did get the correct recipe, it ended with chocolate icing rolling down the counter and all over me. But man did it sure taste good!
I made the cake with her one time when she was sick with Alzheimer's. It was amazing how good doing something she knew so well was for her. She sat in a chair next to the counter and told me not to feel bad because this cake was hard to make. She said that you never knew if it was going to do right or wrong and it had nothing to do with the weather! Apparently, she used to make the cake for the school bake sale. She said that she would make 4 cakes before she got one she thought was pretty enough to place up for auction. People would get in such big bidding wars over this cake that she'd finally give in and say she'd make another one! She ended her story by saying, "but you know what? No matter how it looks, it always tastes good!"
I made the cake to remind myself of her days after her death two years ago. I baked many tears into that cake. I started making it at 9 pm, and by the time I finished at 1 am it was perfect. I had never made it so perfectly. I sobbed knowing that Maw Maw had been the one making it with me. Jesus must have showed her the "secret" to getting it right.
Don't worry, I made it later that year for Mother's Day in Maw Maw's honor, and I thought I had made it perfect. The next morning, the layers had slid off of the cake stand and onto the counter with icing that had hardened in a fountain-like picture flowing down the counter and cabinets to the floor. You think I'm kidding, but I'm totally being honest!!!
But you know what, it tasted good every time! She was right about that part!
Maw Maw also was famous for her yeast rolls. She would make so many at Thanksgiving and Christmas that they would cover every square inch of her tiny kitchen. She would fold them over on pans with a "small" chunk of butter in each one. Then the pans would flow onto the washer and dryer, the bar, and the table as she cooked each pan one by one. Every year, you could bet that the oven would magically burn a pan of them while we all socialized in the tiny house. I think most years we fit 20 people in there which was an accomplishment for how small the house is. I've never attempted the rolls. I couldn't recreate them or the day that they went with if I tried. Something about the people, the celebration, and the rolls.
As I rocked Hannah Grace this morning, I began to sing Maw Maw's favorite hymn, "Because He Lives," over her great granddaughter. Because I didn't know the second verse, I looked up the lyrics.
How sweet to hold
A newborn baby
And feel the pride
And joy he gives
But greater still
The calm assurance
This child can face
Uncertain days
Just Because he lives
I feel confident that if Maw Maw were here today, she'd rock my baby and sing this anthem of promises over Hannah Grace. In fact, I'm pretty sure that she is singing it from heaven and proclaiming it over her now. Okay so what that I never heard Maw Maw sing anywhere except for in the congregation at church. I still know that this verse is amazing. How fitting that Coot's favorite hymn has this for a second verse. Though she can't hold the newborn baby, I know she's singing this verse over Hannah Grace. I just know it.
In those quiet moments when I am wishing my little one to sleep, she has faint smiles like someone is whispering in her ear. I've heard that it's the angels or Jesus whispering to them. Science tells us that it's just gas. But I'm certain it's the voices of those who are in heaven praying sweet blessings over her. The people that she won't get the opportunity to meet until she gets to heaven one day. The people that are telling her a few good stories on her dear ole' mom and dad! I know that Maw Maw is just one of those people praying blessings on the great grandchild she'll never meet, and I'm almost positive that she's telling her Because He Lives, I'll meet you one day!
I pray that the words of Maw Maw's favorite hymn will ring true of Hannah Grace's life and that she will hold on to that promise. I pray that I can honor the memory of my grandmother by teaching her the things my grandmother taught me. One day, when we're making her infamous chocolate cake, and the boiled fudge icing is rolling down the sides all over the counter or when we're attempting her yeast rolls and they are overflowing in the fridge because we forgot to pinch down the batter, I hope that Hannah Grace will know her great grandma in the smallest way. As I rock her to sleep, I pray that more than knowing her great grandmother through me that she would see Christ through me. After all, that's all Coot would want. It's a good thing she isn't relying on me to carry on the tradition of cake or rolls baking!
I hope these words that remind me of my grandmother will remind you today that Because He Lives, we have hope and the promise of things to come. Death is victory!
Because he lives
I can face tomorrow
Because he lives
All fear is gone
Because I know
He holds the future
And life is worth the living
Just because he lives
