Mary B. Ryan July 23, 1930-November 23, 2006

My Grandma was a prayer warrior. I am proud of her. She was a woman committed to upholding her 8 kids, 19 grandkids and 1 great-grand kid in prayer. She passionately believed that prayer influenced our lives. I am thankful for the life that she lived, though she would be the first to tell you it was often not a happy life. Grandma was perpetually sad and troubled by her past. I think she lived a lot of her life trying to redeem herself from her past. An impossible task.

Not a single soul can redeem itself. We can try, but our efforts are in vain. The redemption of my life is not within my own power. Redemption is a divine gift. In Grandma's final letter to her kids, she said that in her death she is in God's presence where she can finaly just 'be'. She said that she does not have to try to "feel" God anymore, because she is FINALLY with him. She said "See you when you get here." Thank you God that I will see her again when I meet You face-to-face!

Lord help me to be someone who is passionate about prayer. Let me be an intercessor who understands that your presence is everywhere and that I cannot earn it. Help me to understand that I cannot earn my salvation through works. Oh God let it not take a lifetime for me to understand that the grace that You give is free and unearned. Lord comfort my family as we grieve the loss of a faithful and generous woman who loved and lived your Word.