Grandma's 100

Yes you did read that correctly this last week we got to share in a very special event my Grandma (Brigadier Elva Lamotte)turned 100. It was great to be able to share with family and think of the changes that Grandma would have seen in her life and to also give thanks for a life lived serving God. Grandma and I have not always seen eye to eye on everything but her love for family, commitment to God and The Salvation Army and her work ethic are things that you cant help but take notice of and give thanks for.
As part of her centenary Grandma received a number of letters from very important people; there was a letter from the Queen,one from the Governor General, another from the Premier of Victoria, one from the local member for Parliament Kirstie Marshall, as a retired officer there was also a letter from the current General, one from retired General Eva Burrows and also one from the Commissioners. These were all beautiful letters acknowledging Grandmas service to the community and thinking of the changes over the journey of Grandmas life. The Commissioner even wished Grandma well as she starts on the next one hundred years !
As lovely as these letters were it was the one Grandma received from the Prime Minister Mr Rudd that really stood out,now this is not a political statement and I know Mr Rudd would be extremely busy but every other letter expressed some thoughts and best wishes over a couple of paragraphs ( Kirstie Marshalls was on a hand written card ) the letter from Mr Rudd contained fourteen words. Fourteen words for a hundred years of life....why bother ? It stood out so poorly from every other note received that it actually became a laugh,now I dont for a minute think that Mr Rudd personally wrote this letter, but whoever did deserves a good kick. All that this letter showed was a lack of care and effort.
Now the reason I have written about this is not just to bag the Prime Minister but to remind us that everything we do people are taking notice of, and if we do things without the appropriate level of commitment and effort it is very easy to see. Now there would have been no problem if we didnt receive a letter from Mr Rudd, but once it was decided to send one it needed to be better than what was presented. We as people and certainly those of us that are Christians need to make sure that when we invest in peoples lives we do so fully and commit the time and effort demanded of such a task. It may take some extra effort on our part but it will be worth it in the long run.
Happy Birthday again Grandma, you always said you would get a letter from the Queen !