Vision Members of the Month

May 2010

Over the past year, we have taken time each month to say a special ‘thank you’ to members of my Vision and Patron Team.  Each member is precious and dear to me, but this month’s honor goes to someone extraordinarily special:  My grandma, Fern Downing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Grandma just celebrated her 96th birthday and has been suffering with dementia for the past several years.  She has not seen how greatly God has blessed this ministry but she predicted it many years ago.  She has always been my biggest cheerleader and passed on her passionate love of music.  For years, she traveled in a girls’ trio performing across the state of Oregon, and dearly loved playing her organ.  One of my earliest memories is hearing and watching her play The Chattanooga Shoeshine Boy.  As she got older, she directed the band at Good Shepherd Retirement Center and stayed active in the music programs of her church. 

About a year ago, I went to visit her in the nursing home.  She had been having a particularly bad day with pain and confusion.  She hasn’t really been able to communicate with us for about the past four years.  I found her in a chair in the hallway, just rocking back and forth and humming with her eyes closed.  I leaned close and told her I was there to see her, but she just kept humming in her own world.  One of the aids passed me and said “She’s been like that all day.”  So I sat next to her and patted her hand.  After a few moments, I began to listen to the melody she was vocalizing.  I realized with a start that she was humming the old Gaither song “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, there’s just something about that name….”   What a beautiful moment!

Grandma, thank you for your love, encouragement and for passing on the legacy of music.  I love you!