My youger years were great! I was born in North Carolina on a Marine base where my father was stationed. We later moved to California where we established our residency for all of my growing years. My sister, Karen was born 19 months after me in Globe, Arizona, and another sister, Surena, came another two years later in Los Angeles California. My Parents were from Globe, Arizona so we frequented their home town many times when I was growing up. Arizona became a second home for me as I would spend several weeks and sometimes months in the summer with my paternal grandmother, whom I called Granny.
My Granny is the highlight of my youth. She was so much fun to be around and we got a long so well that I felt more at home with her, at times, than I did at home with my family. She taught me about Jesus when I very young and through the years we would spend most of our visits worshipping God in song, in prayer and in His Word. Granny would read her Bible to me all the time as I got old enough to read, we would read it together. What a joy it was to have such a great relationship with my Granny, because she taught me the importance of having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I owe all of my thanks to her for teaching me the value of Faith and Belief in Almighty God and His Son Jesus Christ.
Growing up with an agnostic father and a Catholic mother was difficult at times because I rarely saw any of God's love in our home. Yes, there was physical love and there was a respect in my mother for God, but there was never any real teaching from the Word of God. My inner joy was ignited everytime I heard anyone talking about God. My maternal grandfather, Grandpa Fred took me to the Catholic Church one Christmas Eve, and I remember standing there next to him with all these people crowded in the church. I was about five years old, and I couldn't see anything but the nice clothing worn by all the tall men and women around me. I heard a voice as if it came through the ceiling and I was in awe. I remember thinking, Could this be? Is it possible? As I looked around and saw the pew behind me I attempted to climb up to where I could see, and my Grandpa so gently stopped me and said, "no, no, you can't stand up there." The voice bellowed through this high ceiling church and people were praying and chanting words, "Peace be with you too." As this voice continued to speak words about Jesus Christ, I reached up toward my Grandpa to speak in his ear and he bent down to me so that I could ask, "Grandpa, is that God?" He said, "no, that's the Priest." I saw that chuckle in my Grandpa that day, and today I can see why he found humor in that. After that experience I was determined to find God. I had to get to my Granny, because I knew that she would tell me where to find God.
The next day seemed as if it took forever to dawn. We went to Granny's house and I just wanted my mom and dad to take my sisters and leave. I wanted so badly to sit and talk with Granny about how to find God. My father didn't like it when my Granny would talk about Jesus to him. I remembered that he would roll his eyes and sometimes even tell her to stop preaching at him, so I knew better than to try and have a good conversation with her about where to find God in front of my dad. Before we left to return to California I asked Granny in another room, "where do I find God?" She said, "you can find him in your heart." I said, "I know he's in my heart, but I want him to be out here where I can hear him talk to me too," She smiled and said, "talk to Jesus he will show himself to you." I remember feeling like I didn't get the answer I wanted, and I can't quite explain the disappointment I felt because I couldn't get face to face with God, and now she wanted me to talk to Jesus who was in my heart. I didn't understand it as I understand it now, but I learned at that time in my life that the only way to find God was to talk to Jesus in my heart. This is when, I believe, I discovered how to talk to Jesus with Faith in my heart and that He could really hear me.
All my life I have had the utmost respect for my Granny, the very one that gave me a reason for believing in myself, in living life with faith, and in searching for God with all my heart. I am blessed to have had such a wonderful Woman of Faith teach me about Jesus. Her example set my heart towards thge faith and belief I have, and the time I spent with her those first ten years of my life built the foundation of my becoming a Woman of Faith and seeking the Kingdom of God through Jesus Christ. My heart feels joy when I think back to the songs we would sing: Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art, The Church in the Dell, and Come Home. Those were her favorites and we would have a worship time in song everytime I visited her. We would watch Christian television, and could never miss a program with Oral Roberts. We would set up our comfortable chairs and prepare a bowl of Ice Cream just before the show came on and we watch Oral Roberts preach. I will never forget my Granny in her wooden rocking chair, pulled up close to the black and white television so that she could touch her hand to the screen and receive a piece of the annointing that Oral Roberts received from the Lord. I would jump up and place my hand on the screen too just to be like her. I sure do miss those days with her, but I will forever have the things she taught me deep within my heart, and I know that if it weren't for her I would have not known the good Lord Jesus as I know Him today.
So I sign off here with happy thoughts of my Granny and tears of joy for the love I have for Jesus. Praise God for sending His Son Jesus Christ to die for my sins and for using Ocie Marie White, my Granny, to lead me towards a spiritual life of Faith and Hope in worshing Almighty God. One day I will meet Him Face to Face and I know that she will be there to witness it.
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