A Christian Witness

A great Christian lady who has made an impact on my life was my grandmother, Bhivrabai, She was born in District Jalgoan in the State of Maharashtra in the 1890’s. Her marriage to my grandfather, Shravan Maske was cut very short due to the Great Plague in India, which took his life, and possibly that of his parents and my grandmothers parents. In fact the whole village was practically wiped out. But my grandmother was miraculously saved, and as she was only 17 years old and with child, the village boarding school took her in, and she gave birth there to my father. Then she was given shelter at the camps run by the American Missionaries and Red Cross volunteers. While there she learned to read and write and later worked in the school. It was then that she had the opportunity to read the Bible, after which she accepted Lord Jesus Christ, and was baptized. She was a woman of great faith. She later started visiting the women in the villages, and helped them and proclaimed God’s word, and brought many to the faith. She then worked as a Bible Woman.

My father grew up therefore in the midst of missionaries, and having completed his basic education, began his career serving God as a preacher. My mother was a pharmacist and nurse, and had to travel from town to town in her work. My father in his middle-age unfortunately suffered ill health and had to give up his preaching. They had five sons and two daughters. So although my grandmother only had one son, God blessed her with seven grandchildren, and so she considered herself well and truly blessed.

In my growing up years I remember when at home with my younger brother, father and grandmother, that she would enjoy telling us her life stories – I still remember some of them even after 60 years or so! She was always a faithful servant of The Lord, and before I close my reflection of my cherished memories of her I would like to share two accounts of God’s love and faithfulness to His faithful servants:

When my father was too ill to work, and my mother’s work took her far afield and there was a time when her salary was delayed and we had no money for food, my father, grandmother and the rest of us sat around the dining table with nothing to put on it. We just finished our evening prayer giving thanks to God for all His abundance, when there was a knock on the door. A very poor neighbour brought us a little food and kerosene for our oil lamp. My grandmother said “God always provides, thanks be to God!”.

One Christmastime, it was about 23rd December, during the 2nd world war, and we had nothing prepared; - no food – no new clothes – no decorations. My three brothers and my mother were all serving in the forces so they were all absent. It was very cold I remember and we sat huddled with blankets. We were again in prayer during the evening time, when all of a sudden there was a knock on the door, and because of war time we were all scared to answer, but for my grandmother, so she opened the door and there standing in front of her was my third brother holding large packages – full of everything we needed for Christmas. My father said “Of course, it is Christ’s birthday. If God gave us His gift of His Son, He will always also give us all what we need.” My father too also had a great faith.

Grandmother lived a very disciplined life, she was a very devout Christian. One of her very strict disciplines I cannot forget was that she always used to drink boiled water. She read her scriptures called “Rojcha Ujed” translated means “Daily Light” every day. I remember when she prayed that she would always raise her hands and face East when she prayed. She kept in good health up until she reached 76 years old when she had to then have a tumour removed from her breast. This was a very painful operation, and at 50-60 years ago the method used then was very primitive and painful. However, because of her strong will she lived a further four years. But alas she was then too frail to go to church, her eyesight failed her too, so you would usually find her in a corner holding her “Rojcha Ujed” hands clasped together deep in prayer until her death, and that is how the Lord took her to be with Him.

I will always cherish my fond memories of my grandmother who was very kind and compassionate and who loved me dearly. She indeed made a great impact on my life. ‘WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT’ (Matt: 25: v21).

[Ruby is the wife of Rev. Victor Salve, Mission to Seafarers Chaplain
in Bahrain and Assistant Chaplain at St Christopher’s Cathedral]