Grandma Joyce

Not an OptionNot a Choice

My grandma and grandpa raised me.

I never knew my mom and dad.

At times, I wish I knew them

And I find myself feeling extremely sad.

My grandparents were very good to me

And raised me like their own son.

I have many good memories of them.

We always had so much fun.

Grandpa was tall and slender.

He gave me my most favorite rocket ship.

He would fly me around the room on his shoulders.

Zoom! Zoom! Swoosh! Swoosh! Zip! Zip! Zip!

 

Grandma Joyce was a wonderful woman.

She was part Cherokee Indian.

She had long silver-gray hair

And reddish-cinnamon colored skin.

She wore the top of her hair in a bun

With long spiraling curls down her back.

She was medium height and medium weight,

Not too short and not too fat.

 

She was always dressed in white.

She loved her favorite strain of white pearls.

I loved to roll them around in my fingers.

It was her most favorite necklace in the world.

Every time I say my prayers,

I thank the Lord for Grandma Joyce.

I remember her favorite saying was,

“Not an option. Not a choice.”

 

My grandma would make me study for hours.

She said homework is good for the soul.

She said I needed a good education because

A good education was as good as gold.

I didn’t understand what she was trying to tell me.

I just wanted to play with my friends.

But every time I let her look at my homework

She would make me do it over again.

 

“Can’t you write a little neater?

Number two and three are wrong!

Can’t you say this sentence better!

I know you can do it a little better, my son.”

She said, “I know you’re tired of doing homework,

But you should be dedicated to doing things right.

You’ll understand what I mean one day, my son,

I want you to be exceptionally bright.

 

“When you take the time and learn in school,

This will add to your success.

And when you go into your own job or career,

You’ll be the very best."

“A good education should be desired and

Cherished with all your heart.” She said,

“Train up a child in the right way, and

When he is grown he will not depart.”

 

“I’m telling you this for your own good

Before you make your final choice.

Failure is not an option,

Not an option,” said Grandma Joyce.

My friends would come over to see me.

I always liked to hang out at home.

I considered myself a loner.

I liked to do things on my own.

 

They would bring that old rap music.

Singing such and such a word.

Grandma Joyce thought it was the worst music

She had ever heard.

She didn’t mind us making noise,

Laughing or talking loud.

But as soon as we put on that music

She gave me looks that could silence any crowd.

 

I remember there was one day

My friends wanted me to hear a new song.

There were so many dirty words in it,

I knew it wouldn’t be long …

Grandma Joyce waited until

She heard the Lord’s name used in vain.

She pulled the plug straight out the wall.

My friends thought she was insane.

 

They didn’t wait another minute.

They ran for the door and out of the house.

Grandma shouted, “Don’t come back with that junk!”

She was usually as quite as a mouse.

She said, “Son, I’m truly sorry but

I couldn’t take it any more.”

Then she made a final gesture

And closed and locked her front door.

 

She said, “Your eyes and ears are the doorway to your mind.

You must be careful what you listen to.

What you hear in music and see on the TV

Can easily influence you.

“Stay at peace within yourself.

Don’t let the world take your peace from you.

And being disrespectful to my Lord

Is something you absolutely don’t do.

 

“God is to be respected and loved

For the rest of your life.

I hope you understand what I’m saying to you

And please don’t make the same mistake twice.

“I know I can’t make decisions for you

And your life is yours to live.

But just remember who gave life to you.

It was a gift only God could give.

 

“I’m telling you this for your own good.

Before you make your final choice.

Taking God’s name in vain is not an option.

Not an option," said Grandma Joyce.

Oh, I remember when she caught me drinking.

I was drunk as drunk can be.

I couldn’t walk a straight line to save my life.

I couldn’t even see.

 

I managed to make it home that Friday night.

How? I do not know.

When she opened the door to let me in,

She knew exactly where I had to go.

She followed me into the bathroom.

While I hugged the toilet stool,

She sweetly began to hum a hymn

As I wiped away my drool.

 

I don’t know how long I threw up that night

But she didn’t leave my side.

I remember she helped me into my bed.

The next morning all I wanted to do was die.

I was so ashamed of what I had done

I didn’t come out of my room.

I just knew grandma was waiting to talk to me.

I knew she would be coming very soon.

 

She looked at me with a smile on her face

And said, “How are you feeling today?”

I was so ashamed of what I’d done

I didn’t know what to say.

She said, "Son, I don’t have much to say

Because I think you learned your lesson.

Health is not only a necessity

It is also a joy and a blessing."

 

"Don’t be careless with yourself.

Do everything in moderation.

Drinking, drugs, and smoking will destroy your life.

Avoid them. They are life’s greatest temptations."

 

"Your health should be well maintained

And cherished for the rest of your life.

I hope you understand what I'm saying

And don't make the same mistake twice."

 

"I'm just telling you this for your own good

Before you make your final choice.

But drinking is not an option,

not an option," said Grandma Joyce.

 

My grandma saw me hanging on the corner

with a bunch of guys who were up to no good.

She called me over to her to tell me something.

The way only Grandma Joyce could.

 

She said, "I know you're just standing on the corner

And you think it's well and fine,

But to me it looks like you're up to something

and I think it's involving crime."

 

When I turned to take another look

Standing from where she stood,

I could see what she was saying.

It looked like we were up to no good.

 

She said, "Now if you get into trouble,

I will be there to do all I can.

But if you're smart, you'll walk away

And be a good and upright young man."

 

"Don't let anyone take away your freedom

Because trouble is something you can avoid.

Freedom is free to everyone who

Is willing to do what's right by the Lord."

 

"Freedom is to be respected

And cherished for the rest of your life.

I hope you understand what I'm saying,

And don't make the same mistake twice."

 

"Now, I'm telling you this for your own good

Before you make your final choice.

But crime is not an option.

Not an option, not a choice."

 

I remember when I was dating

And she saw me make my first move.

I was ready and set to do it.

I thought nothing could stop my groove.

 

Then Grandma Joyce made her entrance.

She turned on all the lights.

She looked at me and shook her head,

And told my date, "Good night!"

 

She sat down next to me on her couch.

Right near us was a plaque.

She drew my attention to it saying,

"Dear son, look at that.

 

"That is my marriage license.”

She had been married for thirty years.

Granddad had gone before her.

I could hear her fighting back her tears.

 

She said, "Granddaddy and I were married

Before we ever made love.

And the first time he ever touch my hand

I felt like I was flying on the wings of a dove."

 

 

"Making love is very special.

It's not something you rush into.

It's not something to be taken for granted

Or to do just because other people do.

 

"It is something to be respected

And cherished for the rest of your life.

I hope you can understand what I'm saying

And please don't make the same mistake twice.

 

 

"I know I can't make decisions for you.

Your life is yours to live.

But remember who gave life to you.

It was a gift only God could give.

 

"I'm telling you this for your own good

Before you make your final choice.

Sex before marriage is not an option,

Not an option," said Grandma Joyce.

 

Every time I say my prayers,

I think of you, Grandma Joyce,

And everything you told me,

Before I make a final choice.

 

Now that I'm grown with a beautiful wife

And a wonderful family,

I recall all the things you taught and

Everything you said to me.

 

I hear myself quoting you sometimes.

Just off the top of my head.

I catch myself telling my son

Something I know you said.

 

Thank you Grandma for your wisdom

And your sweet and loving voice.

Thank you for giving me my options.

Thank you, Grandma Joyce.