I was asked to deliver the eulogy at my Grandmother’s funeral yesterday. She taught so much through her actions. She was a leader of the family without being the loudest voice. Here is how I said goodbye.

My Grandma Ardelle was genuine. She was authentic. In many ways she was a typical awesome grandma. She cooked amazing meals for us, gave us sweet treats, and didn’t get angry when we’d ride down the stairs to the basement.

But the best part about Grandma wasn’t the food or her unforgettable expressions like “Oh, my land!” or the cool staircase down to the basement (which we don’t have in TX which made it even cooler for me!) it was something I’m just realizing now… after she’s gone. She subtly taught leadership lessons.

She led with authenticity

She taught these lessons to us all by just being her genuine, authentic self. Grandma didn’t preach to us. She didn’t get on a soapbox to tell us her politics or to scold us up and down. She was not constantly telling us what we should or should not do.

As I remember her, she did a lot more listening than she ever did talking.

Grandma definitely established a legacy over 96 years of living with authenticity. A legacy that will have effects through time. In a way, she has sent positive ripples forward through time for generations to come by what she taught us through authenticity.

She was never judgmental

She was very trusting of others. And at times, maybe even what some would call too trusting. She always looked for the good in people. She saw the best in people. She saw their potential.

While some may say it sounded like naivety or being gullible at times, I think Grandma knew exactly what she was doing. I think she saw the potential in others and she wanted those people to see it in themselves too. She had the ability to look past the abrasive surface level and see the potential kindness underneath. She valued kindness.

For example, I was told the story of how my dad got his name. I guess the manager at the service station where Grandma would stop for gas was always very kind. He made sure he filled up the gas tank and always checked the oil and tire pressure. Grandma said “Ohhhh, he was always such a nice man”…. and so of course she named her son after him.

It wasn’t optimism, it was vision

Grandma saw a better world in us all. I think she wanted each of us to see it too.

I teach leadership communication and we call “seeing a better future” a vision. Leaders see the possible future based on the potential of the individual and the team. Leaders see the vision, share the vision, and then lead others to that place.

So, maybe it wasn’t that she was too trusting at times. Maybe that’s just what we saw on the surface. Maybe something else was actually going on. Maybe she was actually seeing something we didn’t see. She was seeing the inner potential in everyone that we couldn’t even see in ourselves.

Maybe, … she just wanted all of us to see our own potential.

What did she see in you?  What’s the potential Grandma Ardelle saw in you?

Let’s live our purpose and honor her legacy

We all have the potential to become the person Grandma saw in each one of us. That’s how we can all carry on her legacy and pass it on to the next generation by living up to the potential she saw in us.

If we do that for her, … we’ll continue making those positive ripples through time. We can carry on the positive ripples of Ardelle Peterson through the generations to come.

As John C. Maxwell says, leaders know the way, show the way, and go the way.

Grandma led by example. I think she’d love to know that we’re all going to pass it on and live up to the best she saw in each of us. Seeing the good in others… that’s what she did. She was just showing us the way.

I love you Grandma.  Rest in Peace.

Love,
Rusty