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| Author's Maternal Grandmother |
Celebrating Three Mothers
God our creator made provision for the broken
pieces of our lives. Regardless of how
good we think we are, our lives are affected in some way by brokenness (ours or
someone elses). He made a promise to
give us “beauty for our ashes” (Isaiah 61:3).
Reading that scripture several times should make us jump up and down, do
the one woman (or man) wave, a cartwheel and dance. Perhaps you don’t understand. We’re talking:
- Joy for mourning
- Freedom from bondage
- A way of escape we can bear
- Healing for families
- Restoration for our loss
- Confidence in place of insecurity
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| Author's mother with author and her sister |
In the Bible times, it was the custom for people
mourning or in great difficulty to lie in ashes. Can you imagine? You already felt bad, but to be buried under
a pile of stinky, sooty ashes? I guess
it’s like when we’re depressed and refuse to leave the house. We lie around in our robes eating high calorie junk food, watching pathetic movies. How on
earth are we to feel better in those conditions? We need to turn it over to the
Lord. Some brokenness is not our
fault. It may be generational. When my maternal grandmother gave birth to my
mother she died within a week. Her husband
did not want to take care of my mother.
It was very tragic. My mother was
raised by a loving aunt and uncle. However the pain (spirit) of rejection never
left. She would speak about it like the
aching was still fresh in her heart. For
many years that spirit of rejection caused bouts of depression. That same spirit was destined to pass to me
BUT FOR GOD! When I came to develop a personal relationship with Christ I was
set free. It didn’t happen quickly but
over a period of years. God makes
everything beautiful in its time (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Within those years I
studied the word and walked closely with God.
I allowed Him to break strongholds, mold 
and deliver me. It wasn’t pretty! That close relationship
gave birth to a series of events and eventually I wrote my novel Sweet Magnolia. It turned out to be an Essence National Book Club selection
with a full page article in the magazine.
God took generational pain and turned it into purpose. Sweet
Magnolia was one of the most difficult books I have had to write because it took
me through a healing process. I used my
mother’s story as an inspiration. In
addition, it helped me grieve my mother’s loss (she passed in my twenties but
it was like grieving again). I’m certain
God made Sweet Magnolia so prominent
for His purpose. He wanted to touch and
deliver readers! Unfortunate
circumstances are in everyone’s life.
However, God can use it for His gloryHe doesn’t waste a thing. When I think of beauty for ashes the awesome
testimony of Israel Houghton also comes to mind. Israel is known all over the world
for his music ministry. He’s won many
souls, awards and sold millions of records.
Israel is also one of
the music ministers at my church Lakewood,
where Joel Osteen is Pastor. Israel was born
to a teenage mother. She was White and
his real father was Black. Her parents threatened her and she left home. While eight months pregnant she was walking
down the street in L.A. A woman jumped out of a
car and handed her a Bible. As she read
through it, she kept coming upon the word Israel. When she gave birth, Israel was the
name she gave her son. His mother gave her life to Christ; eventually married a
Pastor and blessed many people through ministry! God traded her beauty for ashes and blessed her seed. Israel grew up to minister to the
masses through the gift of music! God
didn’t leave Israel’s
mother to lie in ashes. God can
transform the ashes in your life to beauty.
It doesn’t mean there are no consequences to some of our actions. It does not mean we don’t do the best we
can to be obedient to His word. But in
unfortunate circumstances, God can transform tragedies to triumphs.
and deliver me. It wasn’t pretty! That close relationship
gave birth to a series of events and eventually I wrote my novel Sweet Magnolia. It turned out to be an Essence National Book Club selection
with a full page article in the magazine.
God took generational pain and turned it into purpose. Sweet
Magnolia was one of the most difficult books I have had to write because it took
me through a healing process. I used my
mother’s story as an inspiration. In
addition, it helped me grieve my mother’s loss (she passed in my twenties but
it was like grieving again). I’m certain
God made Sweet Magnolia so prominent
for His purpose. He wanted to touch and
deliver readers! Unfortunate
circumstances are in everyone’s life.
However, God can use it for His gloryHe doesn’t waste a thing. When I think of beauty for ashes the awesome
testimony of Israel Houghton also comes to mind. Israel is known all over the world
for his music ministry. He’s won many
souls, awards and sold millions of records.
Israel is also one of
the music ministers at my church Lakewood,
where Joel Osteen is Pastor. Israel was born
to a teenage mother. She was White and
his real father was Black. Her parents threatened her and she left home. While eight months pregnant she was walking
down the street in L.A. A woman jumped out of a
car and handed her a Bible. As she read
through it, she kept coming upon the word Israel. When she gave birth, Israel was the
name she gave her son. His mother gave her life to Christ; eventually married a
Pastor and blessed many people through ministry! God traded her beauty for ashes and blessed her seed. Israel grew up to minister to the
masses through the gift of music! God
didn’t leave Israel’s
mother to lie in ashes. God can
transform the ashes in your life to beauty.
It doesn’t mean there are no consequences to some of our actions. It does not mean we don’t do the best we
can to be obedient to His word. But in
unfortunate circumstances, God can transform tragedies to triumphs.
Blessings and Happy Mother's Day
Norma L. Jarrett, Author &
Founder of Brunch Lady Books & Lifestyle (BLBL)
awesome blog
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it!
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