A Godly Woman

During my recent visit with Miss Annie, she directed me, "REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE"!!! She gently reminded me while holding my hand in her own that I am not defined by my past mistakes, but forgiven!! "Remember who you are, Maria. You are a child of God...and so blessed beyond your circumstances!" I stopped in for a visit to brighten her day, but, KNOW I drove away far more rewarded! The dictionary defines the word blessing as; 1 a : the act or words of one that blesses b :approval, encouragement. 2: a thing conducive to happiness or welfare. In my family, we define HER as Miss Annie. While I grew up loving my grandmothers and spending time with them, it is the woman placed in my life, not by birth, but by purpose that I treasure as my GODmother. Miss Annie's life serves as light to those around her, and one of the finest examples of a godly woman I know.

REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE.....

As a young girl, I have fond memories of finding "the sisters" sitting shoulder to shoulder every Sunday in our church. Some with spouses and some without, nonetheless, worshiping together and supporting each other. I loved trying to tell them apart....Miss Ruby, the teacher, Miss Opal, with purple irredesent hair, Miss Hattie, so serious, and Miss Annie, full of laughter, stories, and quick witted! These women shaped our church and I know shaped me through Sunday School, Bible School, GA's, Choir and their ever presence on that pew EVERY Sunday morning!

Somewhere in the walls of that santuary, I learned to sing.  And on the mornings I braved the congregation to share my song, it was those "sisters" sitting to my right, shoulder to shoulder, that gave me comfort, knowing no matter how lovely or NOT....they would be the first to surround me and tell me it was wonderful! Forever encouraging, forever positive and ALWAYS UPLIFTING.

REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE.....

It was in the spring of my sophomore year in college that Chipola Jr. College presented "Godspell". It was not welcomed by a few of Marianna's churches and there were newspaper articles and much "talk" about blasphemy and how this play disrespected the church, and reflected devil worship.  AND yet, as I opened the show with the first lines of the play,.....sitting shoulder to shoulder were "the sisters"! Miss Annie and her sisters were not swayed by the rhetoric of church politics, they were independent women responsible for their own actions, religion and deeds.  If my memory serves, it is my recollection that they attended the play, not just once, but every night! This action alone inspired me....as a woman and a christian. These godly women were pioneers not only of their own generation BUT MINE! God doesn't require us to follow popular opinion, but to have the courage to act and think for ourselves.

REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE.....

In a few years to follow, my parents divorced and it was at that moment, God KNEW we needed Miss Annie. She swooped in and breathed positive thoughts and love into my mother and lifted us all to a higher level of thinking. She became a mother to my mother, and in turn, a grandmother to my sister and me. I don't honestly believe my mom knew or had truly ever been told just how wonderful she was....but you can bet Miss Annie told her, showed up and reassured her that she was valued and loved!! She remains a great source of validation and support for my mom, forever with a positive word and deed!!! While I know Miss Annie longed for children of her own, I do hope she KNOWS, in her very bones, just how much she is loved and valued by her GODfamily!!

REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE, MISS ANNIE....

Thinking back over my lifetime, I feel so fortunate to have Miss Annie planted in my path! As she reminded me just the other day, it takes being a certain age and faith to KNOW we are okay no matter what life throws at us. In age, we realize we aren't here to compete with each other or judge, but to love and lift one another up because no one gets through life unscathed from disappointments or heartache. We can choose to be dissolved into the depths of our circumstances and remain negative or reach beyond our current standings, and KNOW that God is with us, loves us and has a purpose for us. I have found Miss Annie's words true in my own life as I have struggled to overcome some really painful years, finding the positive and perhaps the lesson, provides great strength and blessings. Focusing on what is good always returns GOOD!! I am forever thankful for this woman who radiates such a godly example of living....not perfectly, but positively! I am blessed beyond measure to know she IS my family and her influence will be generated throughout me and my children. Not to mention, I am CERTAIN I inherited her fine sense of humor and ability to find humor in everything!!! Thank you Miss Annie for loving me and for providing me the tools needed to continue my journey.....and yours!!