The moving truck with all of our belongings from Georgia
arrived on Fir Grove Drive on Valentine’s Day 2007. I caught a glimpse of her across the street
throwing a football with her grandson.
We smiled at each other several times as I unloaded boxes and took them
into our new home.
The next day, she showed up at our door with chocolates and
welcomed us to this quaint, little cul-de-sac street filled mostly with original
homeowners from the 70’s, some of which were (and still are) retirees from
Shell.
When she arrived at our door, I was unpacking items to be
placed in our china cabinet. One of them
was a Lladro figurine given to me upon leaving my position at Children’s
Healthcare of Atlanta. I worked for the
CEO of this health system, which is the largest children’s hospital in
Georgia. Any time an employee left that
organization, he always made sure they were given a Lladro figurine. One that resembled their characteristics. I was normally the one given the task of selecting them. So, at my going away party, when I received
an angel figurine with dark black hair, I almost chuckled out loud while at
the same time feeling flattered that it was an angel. I later learned that his wife had picked it
out for me and she didn't realize the importance he had placed on each selection resembling that person's physical features.
I was unpacking the Lladro figurine as she came in our front
door and I said, “wow, this looks like you!”
Turns out Lani Grant became my angel on earth that very day.
Two months later, when I received the call that my mother had passed away suddenly
of a heart attack, she was the first person I called and she
immediately ran across the street to comfort me. I was 36 years old at the time and still
needed and wanted my mother. During that
deep pain, God gave me Lani. She had her
own children to love, but somehow found room in her heart to adopt our little
family of three and love us just the same.
She would call me sometimes and say, “Hey you wanna hear a funny?” I always needed those laughs when she called. She would pray for me – all the time. She would share pictures of her great grandchildren and her latest life updates.
Yesterday, when I learned that she went to be with Jesus, it was like losing my mother all over again. To be loved so deeply by Lani was such a precious gift. I’ll cherish it forever. I’ll forever miss her calls and texts to share her life and to check on us. She was so very special to us.
I’m so glad you were able to run into the arms of Jesus, Lani. It's where you truly belong, even though my heart aches just the same. I’ll always cherish my china cabinet Lladro figurine as a forever reminder of you and your love for us.
My angel on earth.
