This is the story of a mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Sara Dueck.
Grandma was probably around 20 years old in this picture. At 22, she married Jakob Wiebe, presumably the love of her life and over the next seven years they were blessed with a son and two daughters. She very quickly embraced the life of a mom with young children; keeping house, making meals, changing diapers, bathing kids (much more of a challenge back then when she may not have had running water), and playing - lots of playing. Some days she really loved her children, everything went right; the kids listened and obeyed, the supper turned out right and Jakob got home from work exactly when he promised. Other days everything seemed to be 'discombobulated'. She felt like she was following a three headed wrecking crew around cleaning up messes, never seeming to catch up so the house was a disaster zone, the baby wouldn't have a nap and she was very cranky, the supper was started late and to top it off, Jake forgot to charge his cell phone (ok, maybe not...) and couldn't call and say he was working late. Motherhood was great! "Oh God, please help me to love them." What did she do without the electronic babysitter (TV) and Lego?
One day when she was 29 years old, probably right in the middle of her day, she received word that there had been an accident and shortly thereafter, Jakob died in her arms. Shocked and heartbroken, she knew she needed to go on, if not for herself, then for her three children ages 6, 2 and 8 months. Grandma was a strong woman. I have no idea what I would do in that situation. She has three kids, no real source of income, minimal education, bills to pay. She has some extended family around and many church friends and so life goes on, very slowly at first. "Oh God, where are you?" Remarkably, another young man stepped out of the background very quickly and within nine months, Grandpa and Grandma are married. Is it love? Probably not in the romantic sense. I am not sure it is possible to grieve sufficiently and fall in love with another person in that short period of time. It was definitely a special relationship which grew into love. "Oh God, there You are!"
Over the next the next eight years they were blessed with another son and two more daughters. Now she had a "six headed" wrecking crew to drive her crazy, but she loves each of them with all the love a mother could have. They were each special in their own unique way. "Oh God, We are truly blessed!" 
Grandma brought two boys and four girls from childhood to teenager to adult. The boys had raging hormones and energy to burn. She guided four girls that were moody and had attitude at times. She did this without the assistance of Tampax or Walmart. "Oh God, give me strength!"
All six kids grew up to be teachers or be married to teachers or ministers. How cool is that? At age 62, the last of the children was married and Grandma and Grandpa were truly 'empty nesters'.
The family continued to grow over the years until they had 21 grandchildren. They sold the farmstead and moved into the city. She spent the next many years enjoying her garden and grandchildren with God walking side by side.
At 73 years of age, her eldest son was accidently killed and she was thrown into the world of grieving again. Children are not supposed to die before their parents. It is now that Grandma learned that grieving for a child is very different from grieving for a spouse. "Oh God, what's up with this?"
Grandma also learned the difficulties of having children that live far away, a child with cancer that God lovingly spared and failing health as she and Grandpa grew older but she keeps on trusting God. They move from house to condo to apartment and finally nursing home as it became too difficult to cope on their own. Finally, at the age of 89, Grandma lost her second husband. "Oh God, please take care of him."
About a year and a half later, Grandma faced the loss of a grandson. How do you grieve for him? How does she comfort her daughter, the mother of the child? "Oh God, why?"
You've kept track of my every toss and turn
through the sleepless nights,
Each tear entered in your ledger,
each ache written in your book. Psalm 56:8
As of 2012 Grandma is the mother of:
5 children/6 spouses
20 grandchildren/20 spouses
47 great grandchildren
Total 98
That's quite the legacy to leave behind. Within this large group, there are 26 mothers, 6 of whom are Grandmothers, all striving to learn from her example. My greatest wish is for my three children to grow up walking with God and to become productive useful members of society and I want to learn from Grandma's success.
Happy Belated Mother's Day to all the Mothers and Grandmothers!
Proverbs 31:26-30
When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say,
and she always says it kindly.
She keeps an eye on everyone in her household,
and keeps them all busy and productive.
Her children respect and bless her;
her husband joins in with words of praise:
"Many women have done wonderful things,
but you've outclassed them all!"
Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades.
The woman to be admired and praised
is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.
