Imitate Their Faith
I wish I had embraced the treasure she was while she here. I wish I had been aware of the wisdom I had surrounding me when I was younger. I wish I had appreciated the legacy before me all of those years. Yet, I do know she loved me, she prayed for me, and she had an amazing faith.
Although I didn’t acknowledge it then, my Mamaw Rowlett was a beautiful display of grandparenting. When we would visit her, you couldn’t leave without eating. Her signature was homemade chicken-n-dumplings. She was a great cook— obviously a gift that wasn’t passed down to me. Her home was always comfortable, and she had the dream of a front porch. Mamaw would always give money to me and my little brother so we could walk down to the corner store to buy a soda. She canned, she quilted, always wore a dress with an apron. I have three things in remembrance of her: a quilt, a small pocket Bible that she had written my name in, and her love for tidiness. This probably drives the boys crazy, but one day they’ll look back and appreciate it like I’m appreciating my mamaw.
Not too long ago I was asked to recall someone in my past who was a type of mentor to me – someone who led the way of faith for me. My first answer was my big brother. The oldest of the five of us – yes, I had to throw that in there. Then after a little more thinking, I replied my Mamaw Rowlett. The part I had to explain though, was that I didn’t understand she held that position in my life until now. I didn’t comprehend growing up that I had someone like that or needed someone like that in my life. When I was younger, I didn’t know I needed leadership for wisdom and faith.
The Bible is great about recognizing and remembering how people prepared the ways. For instance, there was Paul, do you remember him? He was once known as Saul but then after three days of being blind, God changes his name to Paul and gives him a new identity in Him. Paul is never the same after that. His faith grows in such a way that he is able to handle the storms of life (some literal ship-wreckable storms), making he himself a picturesque example of faith. Even so, in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, also known as the Hall of Faith, Paul lists those who had gone before him who had seized victory because of their faith. Then he draws our attention to chapter 13 where he reminds us to remember those legends and anyone who has been a leader of the faith. “Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their way of life, imitate their faith”. Hebrews 13:7
It would be easy for me today to write out a list of leaders who have influenced my life since I fully gave my heart to Jesus, from pastors to Christian women speakers. Still, If I had to choose one whom I would want to imitate, it would be someone who never had her name attached to a social media platform. She never worried about what to wear. Someone who never complained. Someone who never jumped to the worst possible conclusion – she was always positive. Mamaw Rowlett was steady.
Although I didn’t have the knowledge to follow in her faithful footsteps when I was young, I think she would be proud of Who I follow now. I’ll never be perfect, but I pray that my relationship with Jesus inspires someone else to follow in these footsteps of faith.
If you have someone in your life who has invested in your faith, thank them today, and if you don’t have that person – go be that person.