Jean's Blog

She was faithful, fearless and strong. At least in my eyes.

Known as mama to me and my sisters, Jean to others and nanny to her grandkids, she always knew how to make you laugh. When life handed her lemons (as it often did), she made lemonade and invited everyone over to sit a spell.

Particularly fond of Aunt Sis, I think a part of mama died when she did. They were bosom buddies; had no secrets and supported each other as they traversed through their respective lives of abuse.

Back then, daddy drank a lot. An addiction he overcame in his late 40s. The physical abuse stopped, but breaking the verbal and emotional abuse was much more difficult.

It must have been when mama got the first negative report back from the oncologist about the seriousness of her breast cancer that daddy softened up on her a bit.

My sisters were mama’s saving grace. They took leave of their lives and stayed with her for months on end, during her early chemotherapy and radiation treatments that followed her radical mastectomy.

I lived nearly 1500 miles away and worked full-time. I was unable to make the commitment to be there on rotation. By the time I got to visit, well, things had gotten worse; much worse. The cancer had metastasized to the brain, lungs and every other part of her precious, broken body.

Grace was personified through her as she sat quietly in the living room as life went on around her.

There was yelling and arguing, combined with every imaginable fear spewing from the mouths of loved ones. I remember wondering:

“Mama what is going on in your mind right now?” “When will you find that blessed peace and relief from all the pain of a broken life that you lived so perfectly in front of us and others.”

That same night was to be the last words I ever spoke to mama before she died. She had been taken to bed and I went to her side. Our one-sided conversation was brief, but meaningful.

“Mama, you know that old body is just the suitcase for your soul. It’s tired and worn out. But your soul will live on in eternity. I love you, and will see you on the other side.”

She smiled, patted my hand and nodded.

Three weeks later, I got the call at 3:30 a.m. that she had passed into eternity. I was already awake, as the Lord so graciously allowed me to know she was healed. Not as man considered healed, but she had won the fight. The fight for her soul–an eternity in Heaven with Jesus.

While mama lost the battle to breast cancer, great is her reward today.

I close with two things for your consideration.

1. Obey the Holy Bible’s plan for salvation found in Acts 2:38. You will seal your eternity with Jesus. (Both mama and daddy did before passing away).
2. Early detection can save your life. Get a yearly mammogram.

God’s Blessings ~ Debra

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photo: creative commons|flickr|audreyyjm529

After youth service one Friday night some 13 years ago as we went about cleaning up and clearing the pews, I came across a note. In short, it said:

Dear ____

I sure wish I could be like you all, but I am a bad girl. I have done bad things and am dirty. I wish I could fit in, but I know I cannot. So I won’t even try. Thank you for inviting me here tonight. I will find another way home.

Love ______

My heart hurt so bad I thought I may be having a heart attack. It ached for this little girl who was beautiful and offered a shy smile, as she lowered her eyes when greeting.

Immediately I sought the girl who invited her. She was about with her friends-click. I asked her if she had read this note and she replied: “Yeah!”

Silence. Then she said “What?” Silence. “What? What is the problem?” she asked more desperately.

I asked if she knew where the girl was, and her response was a flat, but somewhat embarrassed “No.”

Offering a quick excuse: “Well didn’t you read the note? She got another way home.” I embraced the young girl, who by this time was crying, and I joined her. We must have wept for 30 minutes asking God to protect our fragile visitor and to forgive us for our arrogance.

I heard from the visiting girl recently and she is all but homeless, wandering aimlessly from place to place. She is without her children, family and God. There exists a blank stare in her deep brown eyes. It seems the fragile little girl of 13 years ago had been broken several times. And now, she is cracking again, ready to break, without hope.

I offered to help in any way I could. Food, shelter, clothes and warmth. She doesn’t trust anyone with her life or emotions now. Sadly, I am not sure what the end of her story will be, but God does.

Could it be that we get so caught up in our own groups “in church” that we cannot minister to the hurting? Do we unintentionally push them out or turn them away?

Jesus came to seek and save the lost. He asks no less of us. How about it–why not recommit to the commission the Lord commanded unto us:

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15

What are you doing to share the gospel of Christ?

Please comment below

Traveling down the sparsely populated roads of Central East Texas recently I noticed how quickly a season presents itself through the land here.

While there are colorful trees lining the thoroughfares of the North and Eastern United States, our route was only dotted with a few red or partially yellow trees; others were already bare.

As I considered the barren trees spearing up beside the more beautiful and colorful trees, I took note that in spite of the vast difference in appearance they all stood together. United in their existence. Fulfilling their God given purpose.

They all made the landscape beautiful, provided shade and vital minerals for new life to the earth beneath.

The same is true of each person who graces a pew in your church. God created each of us individually for a purpose and commanded us to live in harmony.

When we are united with God and man, the fruit of the Spirit can come alive in us, and we can provide the vital minerals to mankind–simply earthly dust–necessary for new life.

How has unity and grace brought forth particular fruits in your life that has helped someone to new life?

Please share comments below.