On Wednesday, February 10th, 2021, my nana, the woman who prayed me out of the jaws of hell, passed away in her sleep. To say she will be missed is an understatement. Her life, her presence, her existence on this earth touched so many lives. She was a wife, a mother, a sister, a grandmother, a great-grandmother, an aunt, a friend, a confidant, but the role she took the most seriously was her role as a child of God. Her unwavering dedication to Jesus is what laid the foundation of everything my nana was. She used her faith in everything she did—-how she handled money, how she gave advice, how she corrected others, how she loved.
At 88 years old, she loved her old southern hymns. So, it was no surprise to me when one of those hymns rose up in my spirit the day she died and stayed with me all week until the funeral.
“Oh, what a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see. When I look upon His face, the one who saved me by His grace. And when He takes me by the hand and leads me through the promise land, what a day, a glorious day that will be.”
Shortly upon arriving at the visitation, I was informed that the singer had to back out, so I was offered the opportunity to sing. If you’ve been reading my blogs at all, you know that I believe with all my heart that life is about obstacles or opportunities. Our perspectives are all about what’s in our hearts and what we truly believe. So during one of the darkest moments of my life, I chose to say “yes” to an opportunity to honor my nana and be a light for Jesus.
With shaking hands and a trembling voice, I went up in the supernatural strength of the Lord and sang my sad heart out!! And I wouldn’t take all the money in the world for that moment.
Even in death, a light can still shine in the darkness. Hope can still live in those left behind. A legacy is meant to be left behind and we get to chose how to live it out. During this time, there is so much grief and I find myself tearing up just scrambling eggs, but the peace that guards my heart will get me through.
A random hymn that began to echo in my spirit on her passing was setting me up for a blessing to do the impossible. To be a light for Jesus in a dark world. So, never underestimate your influence. Your smile is someone’s encouragement. Your hug is someone’s comfort. Your laugh is someone’s reminder that hope lives in the pain and peace still exists in the darkness.
Oh, and I’m positive that the angels caught nana singing along with me!!
Bake On, Shannon
Precious … she loved you with every fiber in her body and she was so proud of the woman you had become thanks to Jesus.. Our matriarch is gone but her legacy will live for generations.. I love and miss you momma.. we all do!