The Opposite of Red is Humble

Red is a color that shouts for attention!  It cannot hide easily.  Red demands “look at me!” Red is the color of violence – blood; the color of passion – red roses, the heart, Valentines’s Day.  Red is a color that simulates appetite – many restaurants use the color red in their décor, their menus, their logos.  Red is the “show-off” color, the color of ego and power.  

And it’s the color of the elephant that I write about today.  It stands out in my collection because of it’s red – I have only three red elephants in my entire collection of 125+ elephants!  One is a stuffed toy, one is a candle, and then there is this one.  To another observer it may stand out because of its color; to me, it stands out for the memory of the person who gave it to me.

She was one of the easiest people to be around.  She was grounded in her faith and her simplicity of living.  She was my mother-in-law but we all called her “grandma”.  “Mother-in-law” often conjures up the perpetual myth of demanding, meddling, “monster”.  Remember Jane Fonda in the movie “Monster-in-Law”?  The myth ignores the fact that many, if not most mother-in-laws are warm and loving – but that’s for another blog entry.  Anyway, for most of us, the word “grandma”brings to mind thoughts of home cooking, hugs and love—lots of it! This was Edith White and more! 

Spending time with “Grandma White” was a treat to me.   She lived an hour away, but we tried to spend time with her whenever we could and often would take her on short road trips to the state fair or craft fairs.  One time we took her to the annual Mennonite Relief auction in Hutchinson, Kansas. Every April in Kansas,  Mennonites, Amish and Brethren in Christ from all over the state donate their crafts (many, many beautiful quilts!), handmade furniture, foods and all else to this relief sale in Hutchinson.  The proceeds go to providing material needs and development to communities all over the world. One of the highlights of the sale is the “Ten Thousand Villages”.  This is organization allows artisans from all over the world, particularly developing countries, to help support themselves with their crafts sold at a fair price.

“Grandma” went with us several years ago and while browsing in the “Ten Thousand Villages”, she came across a hand-painted elephant made in Sri Lanka.  In spite of my protest, she purchased this little wooden red elephant for me.  It’s ironic that she would be the one to give me one of my few red elephants – because she was everything red is not.  She was hardly a show-off, never shouting for attention, but instead allowed others to receive the credit, or take the spotlight. She was humble, a good listener, and liked simple things -- like family time and a good laugh or two.

She was also a woman of great faith, always active in her church, always tithed—according to my husband, tithing was a consistent value in his growing up, no matter how little the family had.  Having lived through the depression, she lived by the mantra so many did at that time –  UWMD (No, not Unidentified Weapons of Mass Destruction!) UWMD stands for: Use it up, wear it out, make do, or do without!  (I recently read about the practical application of that value in “Money Secrets of the Amish by Lorilee Craker. ) Grandma White lived simply, frugally and humbly.  She was the embodiment of the virtuous woman described in Proverbs 31.

“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.  She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue…

…Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.  

 Proverbs 31: 25-27; 30.

When I look at this elephant, I notice it’s red color, yes, but more importantly I remember a woman whose walk with the Lord is one I wish to emulate.

For Edith Kathryn (Fox) White

1910-2001