Grandma’s Lamp

I turned the knob, but it didn’t light. I jiggled the cord. Sparks flew, and the light flickered. After a few more jiggles and a few more sparks, the lamp finally lit up. The cord would need repaired.

At this point, most people would have set the lamp out with the trash. After all, it was probably more than 50 years old and it had gotten pretty tarnished.

The lamp had stood in my grandmother’s living room for as long as I could remember. I know it had been there for at least 36 years because I had seen in in some of my baby pictures that were taken in my grandparents’ home.

When Grandma passed away, I purchased the lamp at the auction; no one else seemed to want it. The auctioneer called it a “Halloween lamp.” It may have been old and out of style, but the lamp was special to me. It has now stood in my own living room for the past 13 years.

Every time that I look at the lamp, it reminds me of my grandma. Every time I turn the lamp on, it reminds me of the light that radiated from her.

My grandma was more like Jesus than anyone I have ever met. She was as sweet as she could be and was loved by everyone. Even the neighbor kids called her “Grandma.” She always made me feel special and made me feel like I was her favorite. I’m sure that’s how she made all her grandchildren feel.

I can still hear her voice that greeted us every time we visited, “Come in, come in, come in!” Whatever she had been doing, she would stop so that we could enjoy our time together. She always wanted us to stay longer than we were able and always insisted on a “quick peek” through her closet before we could leave. She was sure she could find something special in there that we needed to take home.

I never heard Grandma speak an unkind word about anyone. She loved her family, she loved her church and she loved Jesus. It was clear not just in her words but in her actions.

I remember feeling offended that day when the auctioneer called Grandma’s lamp a “Halloween lamp.” Maybe however, the description was more appropriate than I realized at the time. This world can be a pretty dark and sometimes scary place, but no matter what, Grandma always shined her light in that darkness. Her light made an impact for eternity.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” ~Matthew 5:14-16