Maw Maw's Why

WHY

Why is such a tiny word with only three letters, but one of the most powerful words in the world. As an adverb, it is used for what, for what reason, cause, or purpose. Why is a question concerning the cause or reason for which something is done, or achieved.

My husband’s grandmother, Maw Maw, a woman about 4’9” that weighed almost 200 lbs., would sit in her rocking chair in her apartment and say why, why, why. Why did she have to leave her home and move into an elderly care apartment, why do you have to get old, why doesn’t more family visit, why is it that the great tasting foods that you love to eat are the ones your doctor tells you not to eat? The list goes on and on and Maw Maw never stopped her questions of why. 

She even wanted the word WHY to be put on her tombstone. Then when people would walk past they would ask the question - why is the word WHY on that tombstone and the questions of why would continue on.

I’m sure you can think of many of your own whys. I sure can. Why can’t  I eat all the chocolate, popcorn, potatoes, sweets and bread that I want and why is the cookie jar always empty? ​                

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Well, to be more serious, there are many other whys out there. If you’ve lived through a storm, fire or another act of nature you have walked around asking - why did this happen? For me, I lost my son this past May, so I would love to have my question answered... Why did my son get a cancerous tumor and die?

Then there’s the why that you ask yourself, why didn’t I study for my test, why didn’t I go to the doctor or call the repair man Friday, and why did I wait until Sunday. Why didn’t I come up the idea of Velcro, or the ice bucket challenge? :) 

Of course we’ve all heard the word why from a toddler, it seems it’s one of their first words along with Mommy, Daddy, dog, and cat. All I can say is that the tiny word is one of the most commonly used word in the world. 

Why is still a question that most of the time is without an answer. Maw Maw never got the WHY etched on her tombstone, but I believe in heaven she’s been able to ask why, why, why and has found some of her answers, but I’m sure most of the answers  would be the simple word of because.