I Remember Big Mama and Them

I remember Big Mama. I remember how she stayed up after she thought the rest of the house was fast asleep. She would pace that floor and I could hear her praying through her pain, praying over the wayward son, praying in money for the house and praying out demons from the home. She would be calling out, wailing and laying out under that fancy scarf she called her prayer shawl. I heard her so loud even though she thought she was being so quiet. She always said, “rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”. I remember I said when I grew up I wasn’t going to do all that praying in my house…

I remember Ma’ Dear. I remember her waking us all up early on Sunday mornings to go to church. Never mind if we had just got in and to bed at 2:20 am. If we lived in her house, we were going to the house of prayer. “Choose this day whom you will serve.. But as for me and this house, we will serve the Lord!” she would say as she shooed me into the bathroom. As I got dressed in my Sunday good clothes, I remember I said when I grew up I wasn’t going to make my kids go to church…

I remember Mother. I remember her studying her Bible for hours at a time. She could and would quote a scripture at the drop of a hat. She had a response from the Word for every teenage angst problem I presented to her and it drove me crazy. Her solution for everything was “study to show yourself approved, rightly dividing the Word of truth for yourself”. I would get so frustrated ‘cause I just wanted real talk. I remember I said when I grew up I would not be talking about the Bible all the time, I’m getting a real education…

I remember MawMaw. I remember when she didn’t feel well she would go on one of her 3 or 4 day fasts. Even though she was cooking for everybody else, I never saw her sneak and eat anything. She sure didn’t eat but she sure mumbled scriptures and talked in that strange language under her breath, talking about fasting makes “my light break forth as the morning and my health shall spring forth speedily.” I remember I said when I grew up I wasn’t going to deprive myself of any meals if I didn’t feel good, I would just go to the doctor just like everybody else…

I don’t remember how I let things get so out of control.

I don’t remember the day when I let my children run our house.

I don’t remember why my mind is all over the place.

I don’t remember losing power over my health and well-being.

I DO remember Big Mama always had every bill paid, a full refrigerator and mortgage burning ceremony.

I DO remember Ma’ Dear never had disrespect in her home and not one of her children or grands got in trouble.

I DO remember Mother had the sharpest of minds and was the wisest person I’ve ever known.

I DO remember MawMaw was the most peaceful and healthiest person in the neighborhood.

I finally remember “when I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child….”

I remember my life could use a lot more of what Big Mama, Ma’Dear, Mother, MawMaw and them had in their lives.

I remember maybe, just maybe it does take all that.

I remember them.

I remember Him.

Jesus.