Character Matters Essay Contest, 2nd Place, Elementary School Division
My great grandma lived from 1929-2004. She grew up poor on a farm in Arizona. Grammy had a lot of character. She was honest, courageous, respectful, responsible, and had self-discipline. She was a great example. I felt she was a great person.
Grammy was Honest. She always told the truth and regretted her sins. If you asked a question she would tell the truth. She thought little lies where as bad as big ones.
Grammy had courage. She comforted us when we got scared. She had courage to try something new. She had courage to tell the truth in life. She also had the courage to stand up to whatever life threw at her because she knew God was at her side. Grammy had the courage to leave everyone she loved to move to Africa and Saudi Arabia to teach people how to use big farm equipment. She spent many years there helping people she didn�t know because she thought it was the right thing to do.
Grammy had respect for both, living and dead, mean and nice in heaven and in hell. Grammy respected all of God�s creations. She had great respect for the desert where she grew up and taught me how to respect the desert too.
She loved the desert and took us on what she called rock hunting for hours at a time. We�d bring back many rocks. Then we would crack some of them open. Grammy loved the desert rose the most. Sometimes we would go for walks and at night, we would eat hamburgers and toast marshmallows. Grammy would say the desert is peaceful and quiet.
Every holiday like; Christmas, Easter, Forth of July, Grammy would go to grave sites of loved ones and clean up the headstones. She would put beautiful flowers in the holders and pray for them.
Grammy was responsible. She took responsibility when she did something wrong. She took responsibility in love and in lost hope. Grammy felt it was her responsibility to help others. Grammy was part of the P.E.O. organization where women help women advance. P.E.O. has grown and is a great responsibility. P.E.O stands for Philanthropic Educational Organization.
Grammy took care of a lot of people. She took care of my Mom when she was a little girl and my grandma was at work. Grammy took care of her parents and uncle when they got old and needed help. Grammy was a great example to everyone.
Grammy had self discipline. She never took drugs, drank alcohol, or smoked. She went to Church every Sunday and lived a healthy life. She took care of herself, her house, her family, and her pets. She made sure to take care of God�s creations.
Grammy was loyal to me and I love her. We share the same birthday. I think it is cool because we could celebrate together. After Grammy died, every year on our birthday we put an extra candle for her on the cake. We all miss Grammy very much. She watches us from Heaven.
One of my favorite memories of Grammy is her last Thanksgiving with us. I think we were at her house in Yuma. We went to the desert and went rock hunting. Grammy found us each a desert rose. She held my hand and smiled the whole time. That was one of the last memories I have of Grammy. I miss Grammy a lot.
Grammy is a part of me. Grammy had all you needed in life. She had honesty, courage, respect, responsibility and self-discipline.
