I N D E P E N D E N T

 

Elijah, Hope,
& Iina

A few years ago at a July 4th cookout, a dear Japanese friend asked me about Independence Day. After telling him we won the war against England for our independence, he waved his American flag and shouted, "Congratulations, you won!"  I'm not writing about The American Revolution, but I think about him every year during this holiday. 

As we celebrate our independence from a tyrant, we wave the flag and sing patriotic, or as my Mississippi music director says "patrotic," songs. We should  be proud of our independence as a nation. The road to independence wasn't easy.

My daughter, Hope, will be joining the Gamecock Gateway community where she'll take her 1st 30 hours at Midland's Tech but live in a residential hall, eat, study, play, and join a group on the campus of University of South Carolina.   South Carolina has a reputable Hospitality Management program, and her dream job is to become an event planner for Disney Company, of course. Preparing for her freshman year is time consuming, but luckily there's a group of exceptionally informative and organized contact people; in fact, I've enjoyed communicating with them.

orientation

I thought they enjoyed communicating with me, too, but April's "information" session hinted at something else. "We have a facebook page for Gamecock Gateway students.  Parents, you may look but not join our page."  Well, alright.  I felt slightly slighted.  April, May, and June, I continued to e-mail about the compass test, roommate assignment, dates, books, etc.  You know, all the things I need to control. A few weeks ago, Hope and I, as her supporter, attended Gamecock Gateway orientation. Apparently, I'm no longer in control.

 

Hear Ye, Hear Ye, On Wednesday, June 28, 2014 Gamecock Gateway made a declaration.



 

We the People of Gamecock Gateway, in Order to form a more independent Student, hereby establish communication only with students.  Student emails and phone calls shall consist of inquiries from their supporters (that would be the tyrant parents); in fact, supporters may reside in close proximity of the communication device and provide inquiries as to time, place, and manner, but we the People of Gamecock Gateway will only give our Yeas, Nays, and knowledge to students.  Supporters are welcome to read correspondence and are strongly encouraged to continue communication with students and secure Blessings upon them, but from henceforth, it is time for students to responsibly communicate with Gamecock Gateway to insure their independence until such time as a bill passes through the House of the Supporters.  At which time, it will be for the general Welfare of students for the supporter to offer coin for this bill.

My control of Hope's communication has ceased. I'm here to support Hope, but she is responsible for communication with the People of Gamecock Gateway. Her independence has been declared in preparation for the day she leaves the House of her Supporters.

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:16

Last week, I wrote about heaven.  As much as I would like my grandparents and aunt to put in a good word for me, "hey, God, Katy says hello, thanks for the blessings, and will you forgive her sins?" That's not possible. I'm ultimately responsible for this communication. On earth, Jesus didn't say,"tell me what you want to say to My Father;" instead, He taught them how to communicate.  Then, He left a Helper for support. 

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. Romans 8:26 NLT

students & supporters
at information session

Do I have earthly supporters? Yes. In fact, I recently asked several friends to pray when I couldn't.  That's common in a season where dialogue is difficult. Supporters teach and guide us in our walk.  Eventually, though, we have to communicate independently even if our grandmother is a saint, our husband a deacon, and our brother a pastor. 

 

Jesus fought and won for us. No longer is it necessary to go through man to talk to God. We're on our own and free to approach His throne anytime. He's waiting on us to independently communicate with Him.

Hope & Michelle

Congratulations!

Katy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hands

In honor of my beautiful mother, Sheila Davis King Brown 

 

The child eventually becomes the parent.  That's what we're told. That's what my sister and I experienced recently with both of our parents in the hospital within two months.  My mom, a breast cancer,  ovarian cancer, and stroke survivor,  was born with one kidney, and it's in stage 4 failure.  After developing sepsis from an infection, she spent one week in ICU.  We paced the floor, cried with my dad, prayed with family and friends, talked to nurses and doctors, and slept in the waiting room.  Actually, since the hospital leaves the lights on in the waiting room all night, I only slept there one night. My sister endured the lights- on-all-night for six nights. Our comfort during this time came by family, friends, and church members bringing snacks, offering words of encouragement and holding our hands. 

But what about my mother? She was critical, on a ventilator, and sedated for several days, so she couldn't experience the comfort and fellowship from friends and family.  She needed to be comforted, so while she was still sedated, I decided it was my duty to hold her hand and comfort her.  My mom has the softest hands of anyone I've known.  They're also covered in freckles, like mine.  While she was sedated,  I picked up her hand and held it, but holding her hand didn't work as I planned; instead,  something strange happened.  Her hand held mine. She comforted me.  I felt this peace I hadn't felt since she was admitted. I'm many decades past childhood, but she's still my mother, and I'm her little girl forever.  The same soft, warm hand that held me as a baby,  felt my forehead for fever, brushed my hair, and dried my tears brought comfort to me from an ICU bed.

She spent another week in a regular hospital room where there was only one chair, occupied by dad most of the time.   Mothers know their children, and she knew I was tired from working, so when I visited her, she asked me to crawl in bed with her.  I didn't dare say NO. To the surprise of the night nurse, we watched a football game curled up in her hospital bed.  Susi did the same at the rehabilitation hospital.

Grown don't mean nothing to a mother. A child is a child. They get bigger, older, but grown? What's that supposed to mean? In my heart it don't mean a thing. Toni Morrison - "Beloved" 1987

See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.  Isaiah 49:16 NKJV

My sister cooks and cleans for my parents and makes sure they take their medicine and remember their doctor appointments.  I'm their once a week yard man.  But, as much as I like to think otherwise, my mom does more for me than I do for her.  I will never out love her.  Mothers never give up on their children. We're inscribed on their hands. They're always holding our hands.  Even as adults, we're always on their minds.  

I am inscribed in the palm of God's hands and continually on His mind. This brings me great comfort.  I may serve at church, attend bible study and talk about God's love and compassion, but no matter how much I think I know or how closely I walk with Him, He does more for me than I do for Him.  I am His child forever, always on His mind. His protection is forever around me.  I will never out love God.

While walking around busily working for God, deciding what you can do for Him, reach for His hand that is always there, and let Him comfort you. 

"I will comfort you there in Jerusalem, as a mother comforts her child." Isaiah 66:13 NLT

Happy Mother's Day,

Katy

Mom looking very healthy