Attribute #18 - Sincerity

Dorothy Gertrude Wilson Lewis White

1918 - 2004

Sincerity: freedom from deceit, hypocrisy, or duplicity; genuine; probity [which means integrity or uprightness] in intention or in communicating; earnestness

Titus 2:7-8
In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

Sincerity is a synonym for integrity, along with righteousness and honesty. Those are all words that describe my grandmother. I wrote about some of my memories of her a few years ago, but here are a few more.

with her twin sister, Lin

Since this is a Christmas season post, here's a Christmas season memory. Growing up, our family tradition was to spend Christmas Eve with my father's parents, stay at home for Christmas morning, and then go to my mother's parents for Christmas dinner in the afternoon. I remember being particularly impressed that Grandmother White had two Christmas trees - a white flocked one in the living room (would remembering purple and turquoise ornaments be an accurate memory?) and a "regular" green one in the family room. She loved Christmas!

1936, about the time she graduated with a nursing degree

I remember eating my first microwaved hot dog at Grandmother's house; she was the first person I knew that had a microwave and we were in awe that something could cook in 45 seconds! I also remember having Lucky Charms for breakfast when we spent the night with her. My mother only bought "boring" cold cereal like Cheerios, Corn Flakes, and Rice Krispies. Apparently, even 50 years later, that's still a difference between mothers and grandmothers; our grandsons had Lucky Charms marshmallows for breakfast last Saturday. A little sweetness lasts a long time.

I am grateful that Grandmother exemplified the thought in this quote from Dieter F. Uchtdorf: “Sometimes the most precious and sacred things are right in front of us, in plain sight, but we cannot or will not see them. . . .  I promise that if we unclutter our lives a little bit and in sincerity and humility seek the pure and gentle Christ with our hearts, we will see Him, we will find Him—on Christmas and throughout the year.”

Last year's attribute - Sacrifice