Lord Willing

I heard those words spoken often as I was growing up.  My grandmother, who is now 86, would always say, "Lord willing."  I remember asking her, "Memommy will you be at my wedding one day," "Will you see my children?,"  "Will you this or that?"  Her response was always, "Lord willing!"  As a child I would get so upset when she made this statement.  I thought it meant she believed death was coming for her soon.  I loved (love) this woman with all my heart and did not want to think of losing her.  She had to be at my wedding, had to see my baby, had to…

As I grow older and become more acquainted with our Savior, I realize she wasn't saying these things to be morbid.  No, she knew something I would soon learn.  She knew the only reason we are allowed to take our next breath is if the Lord wills it.  As I type and tears stream down my face, she is in bed and unable to form many words.  It happened so quickly.  One minute we are at a family Christmas chatting and the next her words are jumbled.

This year for Christmas I gave her a photo book with written details of her life.  At the end of the book I asked her what legacy she would like to leave for her children and grandchildren.  She said, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, because your heart and feelings will deceive you."  Memommy has told me often, she hopes to see all her children and grandchildren walk with the Lord.

She understood the definition of sanctification.  She knows praying the "sinners prayer" is not the end, but the beginning of a true relationship with God.  Memommy wants her children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, and friends to be sanctified daily!  It is a process and anyone who knows her can see that even now, she is being sanctified.  She has a true relationship with God.  If we are truly saved, only then do we have the right to call Him Father.  I know if she could form these words she would say, "The Lord willing, each and every one of my children and grandchildren will know the Lord, have the right to call Him Father, and they will be sanctified on a daily basis."  Memommy is a child of God and she does not want her family to be nominal christians.  It is clear by the words she said, "your heart and feelings will deceive you" that she does not want us to be deceived into believing anything that is not true.  She wants us to rejoice with her in Heaven and not be decieved into believing we are "saved," if we are not.  She desires us to be in a true relationship with the one, true King.

Her legacy will live on through her children, grandchildren, brothers, and sisters who know God and are not afraid to proclaim His good and faithful name.