As the Matriarch, My Mission is Encouragement and Faith Building

I am stunned to know that I am now the oldest generation of my family. When I was younger, I liked sitting beside or on the lap of the older women and listening to them gossip about their children and neighbors, while passing along to me, maybe unknowingly, behaviors that were unacceptable or unglodly. I learned a lot of about what not to do to become the subject of their discussions.

Those older aunts were encouraging, too. Once, I entered a school contest that required me to learn the entirety of Chapter 28 in Matthews. I spent weeks memorizing the verses, although as someone who had never been to church, I thought of them as a fairy tale. On the night before the contest, I worried, but my aunt assured me that I could do it, stating something like, “You can do this, baby!” I stepped up on stage with another little girl, and we recited the whole chapter together. We both won a clear candy jar full of peppermints! I have loved peppermints since that moment.

Now it’s my turn to post encouraging messages on the family text or chat pages. I tell my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren that they are loved and can do anything they put their minds to. I remind them that I love them, they are my greatest gifts, and that the Lord loves them more. I encourage them to believe in themselves and to trust God, but I try not to overwhelm them with spiritual messages, because I am still praying for some of them, and I don’t want them to exit the chat.

When I am ill, I let them know that I am still grateful for the health I have, because I want them to understand that you can choose how to react to trials and tribulations, with either fear or faith. They know that I have survived many difficult events, but that I have not allowed the past to dictate my future. So, my mission is always to help them navigate this world without experiencing as much pain and heartbreak as I did. I want a better life for them, so I make myself available to them. Even when my husband and I travel, I remind them that my phone will stay charged, and that even though there may be a 5- or 6-hour time difference, they can call me at any time of day or night.

That’s what Nanas or Grannies are meant to do!

Copyright ©
All posts on my blog, Help From Heaven, are my intellectual property protected by copyright. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express written permission from the author and/or owner of this blog is strictly prohibited.