Lucy Merle Bruce

On the morning of July 25, 2013, Brad's grandma passed away, just one week after her 98th birthday.  Thankfully, Brad was able to visit her a few months ago in Missouri.  She was recovering from a broken pelvis and was very weak and tired.  Brad had a moment alone with her and in his words "asked her what she had learned about life and just generally gave her an opportunity to share words of wisdom with me".  He said that in that moment she had great clarity and energy and this is what she chose to say:

1).  Appreciate your friends more.  They are so important.
2).  People are so important, [so invest your time and energy in them].
3).  If you move around a lot, you really miss out on some deeper relationships that you could have had.  I don't like to move much because I don't want to move away from my friends and miss out on those deeper relationships.
4).  But, of course if you're a Christian, you always have friends no matter where you move to because the church is everywhere and you'll always be welcome in church.  I really don't know how people live without the church.
5). At times you might feel neglected and passed over, but that's because we're naturally selfish and spoiled.  :)
6). We hardly ever live like we're claiming the promises of God...first you have to spend some time learning what the promises of God are, and then you have to memorize them...and really that's one and the same.  [Then, claim them and live like it!]
7). I like to think about Live and Let Live, and there is some truth to that, but more and more I think about Helping others to have a good time living.  Other people will mostly accept help ... in fact they normally accept help...Sometimes they won't like it because they think you are trying to control their lives, but ...[do it the right way, and they'll accept and really appreciate your help].

Wisdom is with aged men, With long life is understanding. ~ Job 12:12

 Four generations of Bruces photographed in May 2009, just after Anna was born.

I will let her words speak for themselves to tell you of the woman that she was.  

We can only imagine what she is experiencing right now and look forward to the day when we will be with her again!