'Little Grandma' and Discourgament

From time to time all of us will be come discourage or a little down or maybe resentful. So I thought I would post this thought from Grandfather James H. Martineau as it was related to Little Grandma, Mary Ann Thurston, his daughter in -law.

Little Grandma, was so called because of her size, just five feet tall. This size was even more emphasized when she and her husband Joel Hills Martineau who was six feet and some stood side by side. Mary Ann Thurston Martineau, was the maternal Grandma of my Mom. When she and her sisters spoke of Little Grandma, it was always done in hushed and reverent tones, even when relating humorous events. There was always sense of deep love and devotion for her.

Little Grandma was known to be an excellent cook, baker, and seamstress, these gift were passed on to my Mom, who was also known to be a great cook and seamstress. I grew up hearing how "Little Grandma taught me this." or "This is how Little Grandma would do it."

Little Grandma was just sixteen when she married Grandpa Martineau, in 1891, but she was very mature for her age. She was eleven years old when her father was killed by Indians, she was called on to help her mother provide for the family, as her two older sisters where hired out for room and board, therefore out of necessity she matured quickly as she took care of home and her younger siblings as her mother was away.


Shortly after there marriage, Grandpa had to leave her in the care of his parents, James H. and Susan Ellen Johnson Martineau. The following is the story she tells from this time.

"I was a young married woman living Colonia Juarez with my husband's parents, James Henry and Susan Ellen Martineau. my Husband Joel, was gone most of the time since his work was freighting with a team and wagon. while I loved my in-laws for being kind to me, I was home sick for my mother and Sisters who lived in Arizona. I had been very sad for days as I went about doing house work.

My father in-law was a patriarch who gave patriarchal blessings. When he did, I acted as scribe and enjoyed doing so.

One day he said to me: 'Annie will you write something for me?'

'Yes' I replied and brought pen and ink and seated myself at the table.

This is what he dictated:

"The spirit of discouragement never comes from the Lord; neither does the spirit of contention or resentment. The spirit of the Lord is a spirit of faith, love, humility and patience."

After I had written, he said 'Now, take this with you and when you feel down hearted read it and ask the Lord to give his spirit.' "

Little grandma took this to heart; she found solace in the words of her father in-law. Throughout her life she would turn to this words to turn away any negative feelings she might have, in turn she is remembered by her daughter, Aula Martineau Haynie, as a "person without guile. She accepted life and what it offered, always doing her part and extra. She never complained but made the best of what there was or tired to improve it, which she usually did."


If from time to time we feel down hearted, my we turn to those word also.