She gave us a vision of endurance,
anchor’d our faith in unseen miracles,
set out to show us what to do,
and the right way to do it
better than anyone yet living

. . . and yet to be purposed. . .

She baptiz’d our sins away
in prayerful tears,
smiled in our presence us
when we were too embarrass’d
to laugh at our own silly selves,

forgave us for trying to be perfect,
then made it all better with
that secret ingredient laced in each
wave and ripple bouncing from the sides
of that mystical glass pitcher.
every drop of her sugar-sweet tea was
stirr’d by discipline’s daring wooden
spoon, and she never minded using 
that same wood to smack a little experience
across your back if we misbehav’d;
just wasn't no use tryin’ to
hide behind your wrongs,
she’d find you out,
as if Jesus Christ himself
gave her the four-one-one
on our childish itineraries. . .

our juvenile knowledge
couldn’t hold a candle
to the search light of her wisdom
that is greater than our years;
Her majesty always made a path
in the clutter of our confusion and our doubt,
yes it was Her hand that always held tight,
so tensely tight to the hand of the One
who put the sunlight in her smile,
the glow of generosity in her eyes,
and the judgment that will always be
Mike Ray’s dynamic Grandmother,
his dear  ‘Momma JIM's’ had her say
and her way. . .

 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Soon celebrating 95 years of sharing,

January 18, 2006

Happy 95^th Birthday Beautiful Lady, from a friend of your family, slightly removed. Enjoy your cake and eat it too!

cynth’ya lewis reed  © 2005