This morning I was cleaning away like I try to do most every Monday morning if I am on top of my game. My music was loud and I was elbow deep into bathroom cleaning when the phone rang. I could not get to it in time and so ended up listening to a message from a voice I hadn't heard in quite some time. A lady, whose family were members of a church my dad pastor-ed years ago, called to let me know another lady had passed away this morning.
I have not seen Jean Rader in a very long time and if I'm being honest assumed she had already passed away years ago. When I was probably around 8 or 9, give or take, she was Mama Jean and her mother was Granny Robertson to my family. They were members of our church and were so kind to my family. Most likely they were equally kind to every family in our church, but back then in my mind my family was extra special to them. Granny Robertson made amazingly yummy homemade bread and Mama Jean always had some sugar-free candy in her purse or the candy dish in her home for us. I remember meals in their home and some of the sweetest hugs ever came from those two ladies. I say I assumed Mama Jean had already passed away because in my young mind they were both "so old" back then, but my "older yet wiser" self tells me they weren't really.
Hearing of her death didn't bring tears; like I said I haven't seen her in decades. It did, however, bring my mind to the women who have been a part of my life who have passed away recently. That, in turn, led me to thinking about the women past and present who have been Matriarchs of My Faith. Mama Jean and Granny Robertson were definitely two of those as well as the lady who called me today and of course my Mom.
There were so many names that came to mind and I thought I would list them all and the things I learned from them, but I knew that would make this way too long and I'm sure I would forget some ladies. Suffice it to say I have been blessed with women who lived out their faith in front of me. There have been women who have been a part of my life at different stages of my life and some it seems have just always been there. Some who may not even know that they made an impact on me. Some who maybe I didn't know at the time what an impact their faithful walk would make on my life until I was older. I have seen examples of Godly marriages, examples of being faithful when life falls apart, examples of Godly parenting, examples of close intimate relationships with Jesus, and SO much more. I am so grateful for the women God has placed in my life all through out my life.
My thoughts then turned to MY example to OTHER girls/women. Am I a Matriarch of Faith to any of the girls and women who come across my path? I certainly hope first and foremost I am to my daughters, but what about others??? I'm praying for a boldness that does not come natural to me. A boldness that comes from God alone. I'm praying for chances to invest in the lives of girls/women that come across my path in ways that will impact the Kingdom.
I may never know this side of Heaven the lives God allows me to invest in just like I am sure there are women who don't realize how much they invested in me. I can just imagine though that in Heaven there will be some gab fests. Women circled around each other hugging, laughing, and sharing all that we have meant to each other. I can't wait!
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