"Godly Grannies Never Die" (Romans 5:6-8)
Romans 5:6-8 English Standard Version (ESV)
"6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For
one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person
one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows
his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
When I was a young child my German grandmother told me that all you can hope to be in life is a good man. That same grandmother told me when I turned 18, that I was no good. For years, and years I kept trying to be a good man but, no matter what I did I could not live up to those expectations. I could never live up to this image of a good man in the eyes of my grandmother. Although, I loved and cherished my “Hotzi” her standards and expectations of her only grandson were never rational or even realistic. However, my Texas born grandmother had a different twist on life, and she never told me to be a good man. Instead, she told me everything she was telling me was for my own good. Her name was Granny Jackson, affectionally known as "Gangy." There were times I would get so mad at Granny Jackson during the physical therapy I had to undergo as a child. I was born with a weaken and crocked right foot from complications during delivery the day I was born at the hospital. I was about 4 years old when I started doing physical therapy. I remember getting so furious when Granny said, “this is for your own good.” Amongst other things she told me that were for my own good were whooping’s, homework, and bedtime. I hated all those things. None of these of things seemed good to me. We had to bless the food no matter how hungry I was, and we had to go to church no matter how boring it was. What did she say, “Church is for your own good.” How, am I to be good man, if I do not like all these things that are for my own good? If we look at both of what my grandmothers said and blended into what God would have us understand today, then they were both correct. I am no good and all those things Granny Jackson had me do or obey were for my own good.
But, why did Granny Jackson never say that I was no good even though I really am no good. Because, Granny Jackson knew she herself and everyone else were no good but, only that God is truly good. Therefore, God is for our own Good.
