Well, I have spent the better part of the last 5 days travelling. Starting in Berlin, I have been in Basel, Switzerland and surrounding areas, back to Berlin, then to Bad Reichenhall in Bavaria, followed by another day in Basel, and now I am sitting on an Intercity Express Train that will bring me back to Berlin. These 7 hours on the train will be the most relaxing time I have had lately, but its been worth it. I want to take this opportunity to write something about my Grandma:
My Grandma was named Suzanne Widmer-Rychen, but to me and my brother she was and will always be Mamama. Mamama was a kind-hearted, happy, energetic woman of God who very clearly loved us Grandchildren from the depths of her heart. I grew up in Paraguay and thus was only able to see her every three years. We stayed at Mamama’s and Papapa’s house every single time we came, until they moved to a care home. I fondly remember the memories of their house, and living with my Grandparents. The children’s room was only accessible through the room of the Grandparents and often before going to sleep we would stop by their beds to chat for a while and to get a good-night kiss.
It was always, always clear that nothing would be amiss when we would come. Months before, Mamama would be baking all sorts of delicious pastries and cakes, that she would freeze and then bring to perfection for the conclusion of one her delicious meals. There was always, always food on our plates and whatever Mamama could do for us she would. You might say that that is normal for a grandparent to do that for their grandchildren who live far away, and yet, this experience reverberates through so many stories that I have heard from people all over the world that have stayed and have come to visit my grandparents. It was Mamamas gift and passion to serve others in any way possible, something she took with her even to the care home, where she would phone everybody she knew on their birthday to congratulate them. Up to the last moments in her life she was still thinking of a letter she wanted to send out, and a phone call she had to make. In her last conversations with one of her great-grandchildren she lamented the fact that she had no chocolate to give away this time. This was two days before her eventual passing away.
There are so many things she would do and say that demonstrated her love for us grandchildren, and I wont tell them here. What always impacted me is that all of these things did not come by its own, but they were a reflection of her deep relationship with her saviour, God. She loved God, and experienced his love in many troubled times in her life. This love did not permit here sit idly, but she served in the church and outside of it wherever she could. Although she told me many times that it had been hard for her that my mom was living so far away, you could hear in her tone of voice and see in her words that she was still happy, because she knew that my parents were serving the same God that she was, just in a different part of the world, and that was sufficient for her. Mamama and Papapa were prayer warriors that always relied on God. In these last couple of years, there was not one conversation with Mamam, in which the topic of her and my faith did not come up. As the grandparents got older, they knew where they were heading to, and they were looking forward to leaving this earthly life at some point or other. One of the particular stories that I remember very vividly is this one:
Several years ago, when we still stayed at their house for a summer, we had made plans with my aunt that Mamama had not known about. Now, in Basel, there is a shopping centre called the Shopping-Paradise where we would often go with Mamama (as a matter of fact this had become a tradition at that point already). As my brother and I were getting ready to leave the house Mamama poped in and blurted: “Do you guys want to go to Paradise today?” My brother and I looked at each other, because what we had understood her asking us was wether we wanted to go to heaven with them that day. I finally carefully ventured an answer: “Well, Mamama, sure eventually, but today, I am don’t really think we are ready.” Disappointment and confused looks followed, until we had finally realized that what she had done was to invite us to the Shopping-Paradise, not to be confused with the paradise that is promised to us when we go to heaven. We had a good laugh, and I will always remember this experience.
In the following years, Mamama would often tell me, however, that she was now ready to go to that heavenly paradise. She had to be patient however, which became harder and harder to do once Papapa passed away in 2005. Everyday that I would see her during the brief visits in 2006 she would let me know with hope in her voice, that she might not be there anymore the next time I would visit her. And yet, she never gave up. She loved life and she waited patiently for God to end it at his bidding and not at hers. She knew where she was going and she understood it to be God’s mercy when that time would come.
Two weeks ago, her condition worsened and I booked a flight from Berlin to Basel planning to most likely be attending her funeral. What do you know that by the time I arrived she had been better for two days and was able to eat, drink and even speak to us. Even though her voice was cracking and I could not speak loud and clear enough for her to understand everything, we had a conversation about the favourite topic of hers, that of her faith. She undersood every word I said and her face lit up, and I still remember the last clear words she told me that day as she was holding my hand with one of hers and caressing my arm with her other: “My time is in his hands.” And so it was. On Thursday she spent the whole day sleeping restfully by the grace of God who finally gave her rest, and early in the morning on Friday, the 12th of December 2008 the God whom she faithfully trusted to the very end and whom she knew to be the only true, almighty, all-knowing, merciful and loving Father decided that it was time for Mamama to leave her earthly life and body and enter a new one. Many of her loved ones have preceded her, including her husband Pierre Widmer (Papapa) and her second daughter Jeanne (at the age of 8 months). One of the Bible verses she requested to be read, a couple of days before her passing are these words from Psalm 107:
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever. Let the redeemed say so, those he redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west from the north and from the south.
With all my love Mamama: Good-bye for the last time. Thank you for all the prayers, your love, and your example. I will always cherish my memories of you and I will miss you. I am happy for you and I do hope to see you there some day.
