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I believe how a person acts in a crisis shows who they really are. My grandmother showed me this when my grandfather died. My grandparents had been married for over fifty years when my grandfather suffered the stroke that killed him. Ever since that day I have know exactly what kind of person my grandmother is.
Instead of becoming angry and bitter while my grandfather lie in the hospital bed on life support, my grandmother actually comforted the other members of the family. In such a horrible and tragic moment, when who a person really is comes to the surface, the only thing I ever saw from my grandmother was selflessness and love. In those hours and days we spent waiting; my grandmother accepted that my grandfather was not coming back. She told us not to pray he stays here with us because he would just be forever confined to a hospital bed on life support, but to instead pray that he would get to leave his suffering in this world and move on to eternal joy. She told us to not think of ourselves and how much we would miss him, but to instead think of the one who was suffering, my grandfather and her loving husband of over fifty years.
In perhaps the biggest crisis of her life, my grandmother acted with nothing but love, care, and selflessness and showed me what kind of a person she truly is.
Malikah Williams • Jan 17, 2011 at 5:51 pm
Your grandmother is extremly strong and I know that I porbably could not do what she did in that situation. This story is truly inspiring.
Joseph P. • Nov 7, 2010 at 5:20 pm
Your grandmother is truly a mentally strong person. It is easy to be selfless when things are going great in your life, but when a tragedy hits so close to a person like what happened to your grandmother, that is when the selfless and mentally tough people are separated from the rest.
Jessica Taylor • Oct 28, 2010 at 5:09 pm
I have had tragedies in my family, but none that have been that close to me. I have to agree with Shelby though, I don’t think that I could be that selfless in a situation like that. I don’t hope for tragedy to strike, but I do hope that if it does I can think back to your grandma and try to be strong like her.
Devan Andrews • Oct 28, 2010 at 5:08 pm
A situation like this actually happened to me over the summer, when my grandfather had a stroke. My father, the youngest of three siblings, was the levelheaded one during his long hospital stay and rehabilitation. He took me to visit him on a regular basis, and did his best to cheer my grandfather up no matter the situation. This taught me that in times of crises, the calm one truly has the best character.
shelby reynolds • Oct 28, 2010 at 4:17 pm
Thats really amazing. I know that where i am in my life right now that i would not be able to be so selfless with any of the relationships i have. I would be to pieces and praying for their return to my arms. Rachels grandmother is truely a person to admire.
Rachel Arnold • Oct 28, 2010 at 1:39 pm
Rachel, I think that your grandmother was a very insightful person. I haven’t faced any problems nearly that tramatic, but I hope that when the time comes, as it does for everyone, that I will have the strength that she had. Thanks for the encouragement that at least it’s possible.
Jill Fairchild • Oct 26, 2010 at 3:16 pm
Thank you so much for sharing this, Rachel. I understand exactly what you mean. My grandmother died last month after battling cancer for over 10 years. She was the strongest person I knew, and who I look up to for my role model of strength. She always put others before herself. I would definately agree that a person shows their true colors when they are in the most difficult situations.