Be A Hero To The Lives You Touch. A Tribute To My Grandmother
April 26 2009 10:00:00 PM
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Sadly, on Wed April 22nd, Jean Weisbrod passed away. My grandmother meant the world to me. I can only hope to bring to the world, the same level of joy and love that she did. At her funeral, I spoke the words below.
Our grandmother was a superhero.
She could not fly, nor stop bullets.
Her powers were more subtle, yet far more impacting.
She had the ability to make the world a better place.
She did this, by always seeing the good in people.
No matter what a person's faults may be, our grandmother always had faith in them. Always.
She loved unconditionally.
She was the center of this family.
This large extended family of everyone here today, and those that could not join us.
She brought people together, making everyone closer.
No matter what was going on in people's lives, she knew about it.
Because everyone went to visit her, or called her, or passed information to her via others.
I would often speak to Bub on the phone for an hour or more, getting caught up on family news, and yes sharing a little gossip.
You have to understand, I've never spoken to anyone else on the phone for an hour.
But with Bub the time always just flew by.
She would tell me stories, and the were always about the things people had accomplished, never a harsh word was uttered.
Her power was to always see the good in people.
************
When I would visit bub, I'd walk into her room , and see her sitting there in her chair, usually watching the Young and the Restless.
I would get a big hug and kiss, and then I would gaze around her room.
No matter how many times I was in that room, there was always something that stood out to me.
There on the wall, or sitting on the window sill, were family photos of my grandmother...
but some were with people I've never met, or there was a gift from some I did not know.
Now I was extremely close to my grandmother.
Yet I could walk into her room, and discover other people that loved her.
See other lives that see touched.
That is incredible to me.
The reach of her influence. The reach of her love.
It fills my heart to know she meant that much to so many people.
Her power was to make every life she touched, a little better.
************
But the extent of her influence did not reach just our family, and the extended community which knew her.
Often after I would visit Bub, I would mention it on the internet, but I never really gave it too much thought.
It was just me, openly sharing the events of my life.
So on Wed, when Bub passed away, I wanted my friends to know. I left a brief message online...
"My grandmother passed away today. She was 98 & brought love to everyone around her. To help me celebrate her life, pls hug someone you love."
I did not tell people because I wanted their sympathy.
I mentioned it because I wanted my memory of that day, to have something positive associated with it that I could look back on.
What happened was wonderful.
Dozens and dozens of people from all around the world, responded telling me how much my stories of Bub over the years meant to them, and how much they would miss reading them.
While they did not know her personally, what it did was inspire them to contact their loved ones.
Call or visit their grandmother, a parent, a child, a sibling, or a friend.
So while Bub was the center of this family, she was also the catalyst for spreading love to people all around the world, even to complete strangers.
Her power was to make the world a better place.
************
When you leave here today, we'd like to ask you to do something for us, well for Bub.
It is not difficult, and it won't cost you a cent.
We want you to make the world a better place.
Forgive someone without asking for an apology.
Call someone you've not spoken to in a while.
Forget about some silly fight you're having.
Be more patient.
Be more tolerant.
Say thank you, and I love you far more often.
Most importantly, always see the good in people.
That is the way our grandmother lived, and these actions can change the world.
Be a hero to the lives you touch, like Bubby was to ours.
Our grandmother was a superhero.
She could not fly, nor stop bullets.
Her powers were more subtle, yet far more impacting.
She had the ability to make the world a better place.
She did this, by always seeing the good in people.
No matter what a person's faults may be, our grandmother always had faith in them. Always.
She loved unconditionally.
She was the center of this family.
This large extended family of everyone here today, and those that could not join us.
She brought people together, making everyone closer.
No matter what was going on in people's lives, she knew about it.
Because everyone went to visit her, or called her, or passed information to her via others.
I would often speak to Bub on the phone for an hour or more, getting caught up on family news, and yes sharing a little gossip.
You have to understand, I've never spoken to anyone else on the phone for an hour.
But with Bub the time always just flew by.
She would tell me stories, and the were always about the things people had accomplished, never a harsh word was uttered.
Her power was to always see the good in people.
************
When I would visit bub, I'd walk into her room , and see her sitting there in her chair, usually watching the Young and the Restless.
I would get a big hug and kiss, and then I would gaze around her room.
No matter how many times I was in that room, there was always something that stood out to me.
There on the wall, or sitting on the window sill, were family photos of my grandmother...
but some were with people I've never met, or there was a gift from some I did not know.
Now I was extremely close to my grandmother.
Yet I could walk into her room, and discover other people that loved her.
See other lives that see touched.
That is incredible to me.
The reach of her influence. The reach of her love.
It fills my heart to know she meant that much to so many people.
Her power was to make every life she touched, a little better.
************
But the extent of her influence did not reach just our family, and the extended community which knew her.
Often after I would visit Bub, I would mention it on the internet, but I never really gave it too much thought.
It was just me, openly sharing the events of my life.
So on Wed, when Bub passed away, I wanted my friends to know. I left a brief message online...
"My grandmother passed away today. She was 98 & brought love to everyone around her. To help me celebrate her life, pls hug someone you love."
I did not tell people because I wanted their sympathy.
I mentioned it because I wanted my memory of that day, to have something positive associated with it that I could look back on.
What happened was wonderful.
Dozens and dozens of people from all around the world, responded telling me how much my stories of Bub over the years meant to them, and how much they would miss reading them.
While they did not know her personally, what it did was inspire them to contact their loved ones.
Call or visit their grandmother, a parent, a child, a sibling, or a friend.
So while Bub was the center of this family, she was also the catalyst for spreading love to people all around the world, even to complete strangers.
Her power was to make the world a better place.
************
When you leave here today, we'd like to ask you to do something for us, well for Bub.
It is not difficult, and it won't cost you a cent.
We want you to make the world a better place.
Forgive someone without asking for an apology.
Call someone you've not spoken to in a while.
Forget about some silly fight you're having.
Be more patient.
Be more tolerant.
Say thank you, and I love you far more often.
Most importantly, always see the good in people.
That is the way our grandmother lived, and these actions can change the world.
Be a hero to the lives you touch, like Bubby was to ours.
