Hi, everyone!
As we continue the discussion on women creating culture… today seems like a good day to introduce you to my Mamaw.
My sweet, amazing, forever young Mamaw. (Pretty sure she’s going to outlive me.)
The most incredible milkshake maker. (By hand, people, and you can totally taste the love).
The queen of Yahtzee and Phase 10. (Y’all, it’s ridiculous. Can you really score over 500 in one game of Yahtzee???)
The champ of all things crochet. (She can put out a Christmas stocking in like two seconds flat.)
The cook who makes ALL the things taste so incredibly delicious. (Y’all haven’t lived until you’ve had that woman’s venison and mashed potatoes)
The example of a loving, supportive wife to my Papa. (She’s one of the greatest examples I know of a servants heart when it comes to doing life with her husband.)
The birthday buddy I’m so thankful for. (Yep, she screamed her head off when dad called to tell her the news on her birthday, June 8th, nearly 30 years ago.)
But Here’s The Best Part
Have you ever met a person who prays?
I mean, like, they really PRAY?
When they say the words “I’ll be praying”, you know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that they will be.
You truly believe that they approach the throne of grace with confidence as it speaks of in Hebrews 4:16, because that’s exactly where they seem to be standing as they lay out their heart and praise and requests before God.
And when they pray, you know to keep your eyes open for answers to those prayers.
I believe there’s a great measure of faith that a person is given who prays diligently, effectively and with a kingdom purpose. And that faith can only grow as God graciously answers.
And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. (1 John 5:14-15)
Well, if I can tell you one thing about my Mamaw today, I want to tell you this.
My Mamaw is a woman who prays.
She Intercedes
No matter what the crisis or need, if Mamaw knows about it, she’s praying for it. And even when all is well, I’ll receive random messages from her, letting me know she’s praying and interceding for me and it’s such a blessing. Whether I’m sick or well, up or down, I know she’s praying.
I remember the time I was admitted to the hospital at 29 weeks for pre-term labor issues with our third little guy and I didn’t let Mamaw know. I had literally been texting her about something else as I was rolled down to ultrasound and I decided not to “worry” her with it.
Wellll, my mom let me know the next day that I was in some big trouble with my grandmother for not telling her. I had worried that she’d be anxious… when she’d simply wanted to pray.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Phil 4:6)
Then there was another time I did call her for prayer.
About two years ago, our oldest, Ryan, after weeks of viral sickness, had awoken from his nap with feet and ankles so swollen he couldn’t walk… soon his elbows began to swell as well and a rash started breaking out over the lower half of his body.
This mama was trying not to flip out as Derek first took Ryan to his doctor at the quick clinic, and then was sent to urgent care to wait, and was then immediately sent to the ER because it appeared too serious to be treated elsewhere. We didn’t know how long the wait would be as Ryan’s condition worsened and we had no idea what was going on.
I called Mamaw, explained the situation and asked her to be praying. She assured me she would. She said she’d be praying for quick and efficient treatment. I remember taking great comfort in her prayers, as I’ve seen God answer powerfully so many times.
About 10 minutes later, Derek called me to let me know they’d hardly had to wait in the ER, were already back in a room, and the attending physician was an elder from our church.
I remember laughing and telling him I wasn’t surprised. Mamaw had been praying. And I knew it.
(P.S. After a couple days in the hospital, Ryan was diagnosed with something called HSP, a rare post viral infection that generally occurs in young boys ages 2-10. It took him about six weeks of recovering at home, but praise God, he’s had no residual issues.)
That’s just one of many examples I could share of the times I was thankful for Mamaw’s prayers. There have been countless times it has seemed as though her prayers are answered with such immediacy, it’s incredible.
But I think that’s partially due to another factor…
She Asks In Faith
Prayer is much more powerful when there is strong faith bolstering it.
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:6-8)
My grandmother has the mindset that prayer is the OBVIOUS answer to our problems and that God is certainly going to answer.
She is often looking for God’s purpose in the random happenings of this life. Through the big and small worries and trials, and the big and small gifts and blessings, Mamaw is one of the quickest people I know to be trusting God with them.
When I catch her up on what’s been going on in my life, she’s always outspoken in believing that God has a purpose in all things. There have been times she was actually aware of what was happening in my life before I even told her and sometimes before I knew for myself what was happening. Y’all, she was working on a WEDDING GIFT for Derek and me before I’d even told her or realized myself that Derek and I would get back together after a lengthy breakup.
As I’ve said, everyone has their God given gifts, and I think my grandmother was blessed with a special measure of faith and it encourages me greatly.
She Gives Thanks
Lastly, Mamaw doesn’t simply intercede and then trust in faith for the answer. She is also incredibly diligent to give thanks when the answers come.
My grandmother takes seriously James 1:17 when it says:
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17
Mamaw is so quick to offer praise and glory to God for every big and small blessing. She sees it as God’s work and not her own or anyone else’s.
For example… she and I were out shopping on our birthday last year when Derek and I were in the thick of house shopping here in NC. A few days before, we’d put in a bid on a house we were anxiously waiting to hear back on. I was in the fitting room when Derek sent me a photo of the house and typed below, “Happy Birthday, babe!” I couldn’t believe we’d landed it.
Moments later when I ran out of the dressing room to go find Mamaw, anyone in the vicinity knew something amazing had happened cause Mamaw went to praisin’ Jesus right there in TJ MAXX. There was no delay for her in remembering to give thanks to the Giver of all good things, It was simply instinctive and everyone around got to be blessed by it.
Once again, this is a single story of many. There’s not enough time in a day to tell you how many times I’ve seen my grandmother give God all the glory, and those memories have taught me to do the same.
Culture Created
Worldly culture will tell you to look to yourself for answers. Look to yourself for strength. Look to yourself for fulfillment and truth.
Mamaw taught me to look to the One who created me for answers… to the One who is Almighty… to the only One who can fulfill… to the only, absolute standard of truth.
Worldly culture likes to encourage women that being anxious is TOTALLY normal and people just need to understand that that’s a part of you.
Mamaw said the answer was prayer. She taught me to take my worries and concerns and questions to the giver of all good things, the one who loves to answer the prayers of his children, the one who is working in and through all things… simply by doing so herself.
Worldly culture will tell me to take the credit, to glory in my moment. The world will tell me I’m a BOSS and I can go it alone.
Mamaw taught me that all credit and glory goes to God alone… and any good that any of us can accomplish is because of Him and for Him.
Over the years I’ve watched my Mamaw create culture that encourages me to rest from thinking I ever have to go this life alone… to rest from striving to answer all the questions in my own wisdom… to take all my anxieties and worries to the One who cares for me. She taught me to lay it all before Him, wait in faith for His answer, and praise Him when it comes.
I love you, Mamaw. Your life of prayer and praise has meant more than you’ll ever know. I’m so thankful for you.
My Family Freedom 