Strong.

Thursday, May 12, 2011
Strong. I’ve been blessed with some amazing people in my life. Occasionally I have one of those “Aha moments” when I realize how special some of them are. I was born into a family that is second to none, and both my parents and grandparents are and were amazing people. I’ve written about many of them before, and will no doubt again in the future. But today I’d like to focus for a moment on my family in Christ and one particular lady that is the picture of strength.
Though I don’t know her entire life story, I am familiar with enough of it to know she is strong. In her lifetime she’s survived a lot of loss. When I first got to know this sweet woman of God it was not long after I first came to Victory Baptist Church as the Youth Pastor in 2003. Her husband had been sick for some time and had just gone on to be with the Lord. I remember being impressed by the strength I saw exhibited in her as she seemed to offer comfort to her family while she was no doubt hurting immensely herself.
In her lifetime she has faced the ultimate of heartbreaks for any mother, as she has mourned the loss of all of her children. Just this past year I saw her shine yet again as she offered quiet strength to her daughter in law, grandkids, and the rest of her family at the passing of her last remaining son. She was hurting, immensely. Yet even in her pain, she still couldn’t help but to nurture others who were hurting. That’s strength – that’s unheard of strength.
God has brought her a best friend and husband in Randall. I always enjoy visiting at their house. They are both characters, and with the two of them combined you’re guaranteed to spend some time being entertained. It has always amazed me how God can take two wonderful people, put them together, and somehow make them even more amazing. He did it with these two.
I’ve seen her cry. I’ve seen her lift her hands in praise. I’ve seen her laugh…a lot. I’ve seen her offer encouragement both in person and over the phone to me in times when I needed it so much. I’ve seen her inspire. And most of all, I’ve seen her do what she does best: love.
Both of my grandma’s are in heaven, and I look forward to seeing them again someday. In the meantime, God has seen fit to send some adopted grandmas into my life, all of them special in their own amazing ways. So today, I tip my hat to one such grandma, and thank her for loving God, her family, her church, her community, and even me. I know she’s reading this, because she reads every day and encourages me in my writing.
Mrs. Marietta, you mean the world to me and everyone that knows you. Whether you know it or not, you are strong. Thank you for being you. And know this – you are loved.



That’s just a thought, and I welcome yours.
Until next time,
blake

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