She Walks With Me: Remembering Mema’s Faith

Reflecting on Mother’s Day, which has just passed, I found myself grateful for the remarkable women who have influenced my life. Their strength and resilience have shaped my journey in countless ways, and I am truly thankful for each one of them.

I thought about the solid rock of faith that my family was built on our Mema.

One thing I am certain of is that the woman had a deep love for Jesus. I admired how she frequently shared Bible stories and spoke of Him with such passion. It's clear that she prayed for all of us kids more than we could ever comprehend, and many of those prayers are now being realized.

The other day, my cousin Traci shared a stunning video that truly moved me, and I feel compelled to share it at the end of this post

That video reminded me of the incredible impact Mema had on my life…As I watched it, tears streamed down my face, mainly because it sparked a deep desire to reach out to my Mema. I wanted to share with her my aspirations of spreading the message of Jesus to everyone I encounter, as I believe that's our greatest purpose in life. This faith that I hold dear runs deep, passed down through generations from her mother to my own, and now to me.

I will always cherish our last moments together.

I sat beside her, tears streaming down my face, overwhelmed by the depth of my love and the reality that she was leaving us. I spoke to her as I always had, wishing I could rewind time to express my feelings before these final moments. I shared how grateful we were to have her in our lives and how deeply she was loved. I reassured her that I was going to be okay. I was especially thankful for the support she gave me during my divorce.

The love Mema shared with me through her friends was a lifeline during a time when I had few companions aside from her and my Mom. Her friends became my friends, and I cherished our weekly domino games together. Many of those remarkable women have since passed on, and I told Mema how much I believed she looked forward to reuniting with them in heaven. Most importantly, I expressed my gratitude to her for sharing Jesus with us and for raising such a wonderful daughter who became Momma. Thank you, Mema, for the love and faith you instilled in our lives.

This once rebellious punk rock kid, now a devoted follower of Jesus, is on a mission to spread the gospel to anyone willing to listen. It's fascinating how conversations can shift; just a few minutes with me often leads to discussions about faith that can last half an hour or more. I've had people ask me, "Why do we always end up talking about Jesus?" It seems that God orchestrates these moments. My deep-rooted faith, for which I am incredibly grateful, naturally guides these interactions.

During difficult moments, my thoughts often drift to Mema and the wise women who helped shape my younger self. Sitting around a table playing dominos, I absorbed invaluable life lessons, but more importantly, I felt the comforting presence of Jesus beside me. They reassured me that He would always be there, and I cherish those memories of laughter and support. I truly miss those remarkable ladies.

Mema’s legacy continues on, especially when I have the opportunity to sing "In the Garden" at church. It’s an emotional experience, as I can almost hear her voice and recall her playful jokes about Andy. She would often say, “I don’t know who Andy is, but he walks with me and talks with me.” That song I cherish, and I envision her strolling through a beautiful garden alongside Jesus, surrounded by vibrant rose bushes. I also remember those striking red flowers—though I can’t recall their name— that I would pick apart, much to Pepa’s dismay! But that’s a story for another time.

I loved that lady so much. I hope one day when I am on my way to heaven…I will have a grandchild sitting beside me telling me thank you …for sharing Jesus with my Daddy.

As I carry her faith forward, I pray my life reflects the love and truth she poured into ours.

Let’s make heaven crowded. Let’s keep sharing Jesus with everyone we meet.