By Doug Creamer

Turning 100

            We took a trip home to see my mother-in-law over the weekend. We had a nice drive up. While I was up there I got the chance to see my sister and her family. We enjoyed a long walk on a warm afternoon, which included a few moments standing out by the Chesapeake Bay. The water was almost like glass and the beauty of the day was captivating. The drive back to North Carolina was cold and windy and included snow flurries as we arrived home. It was a full weekend.

            If you met my mother-in-law you would never know she was 100. Her mother lived to be 107, so her genes must be good. The only hint of age comes from her using a walker, which only serves to steady her on her feet. In the kitchen, her favorite place, she doesn’t use the walker. Her face is smooth and free of wrinkles, though her eyes are a little weak after a hundred years of service. Conversations are pleasant when she wears her hearing aids, and her outlook on life seems positive, even though she worries about her kids, grandkids, and great grandkids.

            I asked about her childhood and she told me that she lived through the Great Depression and World War II. She talked about the rationing and its impact on daily life. She grew up in Georgia where people like their tea to be sweet. The sugar rationing had a big impact on the sweet tea. She talked about growing up in a large family and the rationing of shoes meant that her father had to re-sole their shoes because they couldn’t get new pairs.  

            I asked about food during those difficult times. She said she grew up on a farm where they always had enough food to eat. She said they had chickens, cows, hogs, sheep, and goats. She remembered sheering the sheep and preparing an animal for a meal. Animals were not thought of as pets, they were food. She talked about all the work that had to be done on the farm and how each family member had chores to do. She told me that her dad, who was also a blacksmith, had a big farm and had to hire men to help get all the work done.

            She told me that her dad’s farm came from her grandfather. She had aunts and uncles who also had farms around them. They would help each other get the work done when it was sheep shearing time or when the corn harvest was ready. It took everyone working together to get all the work done. It brought a smile to her face to remember how people came together to help each other out.

            She told me about graduating from high school in a class of twelve. She remembered that most of the people she knew graduated from high school in her community. After high school she went to work for the telephone company in Savannah. She was young and the supervisors were strict. She worked at the phone company for more than 15 years and had several promotions.

            She reflected on other areas of her life, including stories of her children. There were hard times and good times. She has told me a couple of times how she met my father-in-law, who passed a few years ago. It is a great story filled with love. She told me that she strongly believes that her faith in God throughout her life has made all the difference.

            She told me that everyone needs to repent of their sins and turn to the Father for grace, mercy, and love. She believes in the power of prayer and she firmly believes that we can hear the voice of God in our spirits to help guide us through life. She shared some specific examples of how God spoke to her, guiding her through her choices. She wants everyone to have a relationship with Jesus so they can go to heaven.

            At 100 years old, she is excited to go to her heavenly home. She knows there are streets of gold and beauty beyond compare. She knows her family is waiting for her to complete her journey and join them for a glorious family reunion. We have had many conversations in recent years about what heaven will be like when we get there someday. She is at peace about her final destination and prays fervently that all will join her.

            I want to encourage you to turn your hearts over to Jesus. Trust Him. This world and all its craziness will one day pass away and we will be with our Savior and Heavenly Father for all eternity. No one knows their day or hour; my mother-in-law just wants everyone to be ready. Between now and then, she hopes people can learn to work together, much like her family did on their farm.

Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com