My Grandmother passed away last Saturday. I didn’t expect a viewing for a 90-year-old woman to be heavily attended, but over 100 people came with their condolences. It’s a testimony to her influence and legacy. She was 36 years old when I was born; young to be a grandmother. Consequently, I got to study her life for many years. Grammy was one of my first examples of working mothers. She was married, ran a household, volunteered at her church and raised two children all while working full time and she made it look easy. Here is what my grandmother taught me about work.
Take Your Passion and Make it Happen: Grammy loved Jesus Christ more than anything or anyone. Spreading His Gospel was her side gig. Grammy didn’t believe in addition. She was a multiplier like the old Faberge Organics Shampoo commercial (“I told two friends; and they told two friends, and so on…”). Grammy’s church was the biggest outlet for her love and during the years she was a member, hundreds of people benefited from her efforts. She taught the Ladies Sunday School Class for over 50 years. She managed funeral lunches. She sang in the choir. She made cookies for Vacation Bible School. When her kids were grown, did she mourn her empty nest? No. She took a turn in the nursery rocking babies on Sunday morning so parents could attend the service undistracted. When she retired, did she take it easy? No. She coordinated retreats for her Sunday School class to get away together and bond. When her husband passed away, did she shut herself off to grieve? No. She started a widow’s group. Does all this sound like work? It was. Grammy was always at church or working on its behalf, and for many of those years, simultaneously worked full time. She taught me to make time for what is important. Am I stuck in my career? Maybe I need to take an online class to improve my Excel skills, meet with my mentor, or update my LinkedIn profile. If advancing my career is important to me, I have to make time for it.
Whenever I Call You Friend: Grammy knew what everyone in her family was up to: brothers, sisters, in-laws, out-laws, children, grandchildren, great-grandchild, etc. She did it old school: personal encounters, snail mail, and on the phone. She did not own a computer and she had no social media accounts. Some of my most prized possessions are notes Grammy wrote me in birthday cards and voicemails she left on my cell. Grammy went to family reunions, church pot lucks, parties, recitals, and ball games. At these events, Grammy cultivated relationships. She asked questions and was interested in people. She taught me how to network. Social media is convenient, but it just doesn’t replace the impact of face to face interactions. I never know when a former coworker or a fellow volunteer is going to have an open position in her company, remember me fondly, and facilitate a job interview.
What’s Love Got to do With It?: Once I received a job offer over the phone while at Grammy’s house. I told her I was not thrilled about the position, but I needed the employment. Her response was, “You don’t have to retire from it.” I know “Find a career you love!” is trending, but the fact is, two-thirds of American workers are disengaged from their jobs. Grammy did not go after a high profile career. She had employment that paid bills so she could spend money on her church, her family, and herself (Man! That woman LOVED Longaberger baskets). She worked to cover her family with medical insurance and to earn a pension. She taught me if I don’t love my job, I need to find something else I do love. If I can do it as a side gig, even better. The right side gig might eventually turn full time.
One of Grammy’s favorite sayings was, “This too shall pass.” She said it in reference to whatever problem I was going through at the time. But, it’s not just problems that pass. It’s people. I’m grateful God allowed Norma Lee Maple Pelfrey to pass through my life.
Did your grandmother teach you anything about the workforce? Tell me about it here: