Betty meets my grandmother

Austin Gardner • August 10, 2022

Are you saved?

versión en español a continuación


My grandmother was always so special to me. She was born on March 16, 1894. She was 79 when she met Betty.


My grandmother openly expressed her love for me. She spoiled me. At her house, I got to drink coffee with tons of sugar and dip my biscuits in the coffee. I was one of her little preacher boys. Three of her grandchildren had surrendered to preach. All three would end up going as missionaries overseas.


Granddaddy read the Bible to my grandmother aloud from cover to cover every year. There were hash marks on the front pages of the Bible to show how many times they had read the entire Bible.


My grandad regularly talked to me about the Bible, the church, and the work of God. When they visited our house, my mother wanted me to entertain granddaddy. I did that by taking him fishing and getting regular lessons on the New Testament church or his horse and wagon trip to Texas from Tennessee that he had made a couple of times when he was younger.


Grandmother always pushed my hair back on the top of my head because it was too long for her liking, as she would tell me to do right and honor God. 


I wanted my new girlfriend to know my grandparents. I took Betty to meet them. We had barely gotten seated when my grandmother blurted out her first question.


Are you saved? My grandparents were country, very country, but they knew God. They were the most solid family in their church. My granddaddy took care of all the preachers around. If he saw they were lacking, he found ways to give to meet their needs. 


I wanted Betty to know these people that were so important in my life. 


My grandparents, especially my grandmother, like all my family, loved Betty. 


From the very beginning, I knew I would marry a good, godly woman that would be all I could ever dream of to help me be all God had for me. 


I do not remember anyone meeting my beautiful girl that wasn’t impressed with her. 


With 49 years of marriage completed, I still will loudly proclaim. God has blessed me. In Betty, I saw my prayers answered. I found my “good thing” and the love of my life.


Think about this. God gave me a godly heritage. I have always thanked God for such wonderful grandparents. Could I ask those of you that are grandparents a question? Do you share your faith with your family? Do they know you love Jesus? Will your grandchild one day talk about how you cared about them, their soul, and who they would marry?


Your children and grandchildren are watching you. They may not seem to show interest in what you are doing right now, but one day they will. Please live so that it will challenge them to stand for Jesus.



Get the whole story


Betty, the love of my life

The Call

Hay Day of my Life

"The bro zone!" Like a brother

A Giant Heart

The tractor ride

Never Really Dated!

Shocked & Surprised

Good News

Finding an acorn

Scared my dad!

Who's chasing who?

Betty meets my grandmother

The longest summer ever

Reckless Redneck


Mi abuela siempre fue muy especial para mí. Nació el 16 de marzo de 1894. Tenía 79 años cuando conoció a Betty.


Mi abuela expresó abiertamente su amor por mí. Ella me engreía. En su casa, tomé café con toneladas de azúcar y mojé mis galletas en el café. Yo era uno de sus pequeños predicadores. Tres de sus nietos se habían entregado a predicar. Los tres terminarían yendo como misioneros al extranjero.


El abuelo le leía la Biblia a mi abuela en voz alta todos los años. Habían marcas, como guiones, en las primeras páginas de la Biblia para mostrar cuántas veces habían leído la Biblia completa.


Mi abuelo me hablaba regularmente sobre la Biblia, la iglesia y la obra de Dios. Cuando visitaban nuestra casa, mi madre quería que yo entretuviera al abuelo. Lo hice llevándolo a pescar y recibiendo lecciones regulares sobre la iglesia del Nuevo Testamento o me contaba de su viaje a Texas que hizo en caballo y carreta desde Tennessee y que lo había hecho un par de veces cuando era más joven.


La abuela siempre me empujaba el pelo hacia atrás en la parte superior de la cabeza porque era demasiado largo para su gusto, ya que me decía que hiciera lo correcto y honrara a Dios.


Quería que mi nueva novia conociera a mis abuelos. Llevé a Betty a conocerlos. Apenas nos habíamos sentado cuando mi abuela soltó su primera pregunta.


¿Eres salva? Mis abuelos eran del campo, muy del campo, pero conocían a Dios. Eran la familia más sólida de su iglesia. Mi abuelo cuidaba de todos los predicadores de alrededor. Si vio que les faltaba, encontraba maneras de dar para cumplir sus necesidades.


Quería que Betty conociera a estas personas que fueron tan importantes en mi vida.


Mis abuelos, especialmente mi abuela, como toda mi familia, amaban a Betty.


Desde el principio, supe que me casaría con una mujer buena y piadosa, que sería todo lo que podría soñar para ayudarme a ser todo lo que Dios tenía para mí.


No recuerdo a nadie que habiendo conocido a mí chica hermosa que no estuvieran impresionados con ella.


Con 49 años de matrimonio cumplidos, todavía proclamaré en voz alta. Dios me ha bendecido. En Betty, vi mis oraciones respondidas. Encontré mi “cosa buena” y el amor de mi vida.


Piensa en esto. Dios me dio una herencia piadosa. Siempre le he dado gracias a Dios por unos abuelos tan maravillosos. ¿Podría hacerles una pregunta a aquellos de ustedes que son abuelos? ¿Compartes tu fe con tu familia? ¿Saben que amas a Jesús? ¿Hablará algún día su nieto sobre cómo se preocupa por él, su alma y con quién se casará?


Tus hijos y nietos te están mirando. Puede parecer que no muestran interés en lo que estás haciendo en este momento, pero algún día lo harán. Por favor, vive de tal manera que les desafíes a pararse para Jesús.


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