My Grandma Johnson

My Gramdma Johnson passed away yesterday on December 1st. I believe she was 92 years old. Florence Payne Johnson was one of my five grandmas... but really my #1 Grandma and my mother more times than not. I lived by her a lot of my life. She did everything for me. From making my breakfasts every day before school when I lived at her house for the 7th, 8th and most of 9th grades. She was my sounding board my target to vent to when jr. high got too tough, or when my Dad or Mom(s) frustrated me. She was the one I would go to with problems I had. She forgave me my mistakes and allowed me to make them. I am who I am because of her. She would always remind me of the Savior's love for me. She would always remind me of what I could be. She would allow me to complain, and complain about somebody and than she'd say "Now Benny, you know that he/she loves you" It didn't matter what I said or did, I knew she loved me. I never have seen her cross. I've never seen her upset with anyone. I HAVE seen her many times on her knees praying, in her living room chair reading the scriptures or at her kitchen stove cooking something that was just special for me. I was blessed to live so close to my Grandma. I was blessed to have her as my one constant adult role modle during my parent's divorce. I was blessed to have her live close to me when I was a newly wed in Mesa. She was on a mission and my folks had moved back to New Mexico and she was who I called or who I leaned on when I needed something. She was a strength to many people, it only seemed like she was just for me. Grandma Johnson made me feel ten feet tall when the world said I didn't matter. Grandm Johnson kept my attitude positive at the darkest moment of my childhood. She made sure that I didn't crumble when it would have been the easy thing to do. Grandma Johnson was the reason I ended up on a mission, Grandma Johnson was the reason I ended up having a testimony. My Grandma Johnson is the best person I've ever known. I now have a lot to live up to. She expected me to succeed in all I tried to do. She didn't hope or wonder about my success, she expected it. I lived up to it sometimes and not sometimes, but that didn't matter to her. Now I suppose she is watching me. Knowing my actions and my failures. I think that I have many things to work on. Being like her and my Savior just became more important.