"Come by here LORD, some body needs you."

The shortest most effective prayer I ever heard. That was my grandfather's prayer.  It wasn't for every thing.  He reserved it for serious emergencies.  The first time I remember him praying it was when he had been declared dead by his doctors.  They sadly advised us to collect the family and prepare for his "Home going". "We regret to inform you that it is just a matter of hours. Mr.Walters is much too feeble and malnourished to survive the night."

The Red Cross contacted my brother serving in Viet Nam.  Cousins, nieces and nephews came from up and down the East coast.  Rev. Ethel V. McIver came, prayed over him and declared the announcement of his impending death much too premature.  She left confident with a smile on her face.

Granddaddy was in a lot of pain and he was tied to the bed like a hog because he kept pulling all of the tubes out.  My mother promised that we would "Special" him if the the hospital would untie him.  They gave us permission to remain with him around the clock.  My mother came up with a schedule for each one of us to serve our "watch".

I am sure that was the first time I heard him pray that prayer.  I adopted it.  It works, it covers everything and you don't weigh GOD down with some long winded soliloquy.

My grandfather lived about 15 more years. The news of his imminent death revealed some "undesirables" in the family.   A niece, nephew and some other relatives robbed him.  Stole everything out of his house,  freezer and smoke house claiming "first rights".  "Uncle Rome would have wanted me to have this!" I was outraged and ashamed.  No, I wasn't surprised.  Some people are just ignorant and greedy.  They have no shame, can not be made to feel embarrassed or remorseful.  Don't try to talk to them, advise them or correct them.  My grandfather told me to never waste my breath on a fool.  "Shun them!"  Shun ignorance, people that fight, carry guns, curse people out and generally act the fool.

Stand up for yourself.  Don't let people mistreat you because they claim to be kin.  Love is an action verb.  Don't tell me you love me, show me.  If you truly love me there are certain things that you will just not do.  But when you become selfish, you are unable to feel "natural affection".  You can mimic up to a point but you can't feel.  You learn to pretend.  Yes, you do fool some people.  You can fool people that refuse to think, are low functioning, dullards or fellow imps.

I just want to share one thing with you today.  Generational curses can be broken.  If you have an imp in your family, tell them!  Don't go along with wrong doing to be accepted.  Yes, you should pray for them and forgive them.  But, don't let them get away.  Don't cower.  Preach the Gospel to them.  Give them the opportunity to discern, to hear, to obey.

I am so grateful to GOD today.  Yes my heart is broken but GOD is healing me rapidly.  He is healing that little girl.  He is healing Martha.  Poor Martha's body survived for 87 years but she had the emotional maturity of a very precocious 14 year old.  A racist, ignorant, superstitious, corrupt 14 year old.  I helped raise my mother.  As we grew older I matured better than she did.  It saddened me to see how silly and immature she was but she refused to change.

 I moved away immediately after college.  The distance between us helped.  I kept observing, kept praying.  Yes, there were times I laughed.  The millionaire heiress boarding the cruise ships was her most hilarious scam. Taking the best estate rooms, playing dress up and raining money.   Telling lies and reliving her youth.  "What's done on duh ship stay on duh ship." Proof that my mother remained a child her whole life.

Poor Martha suffered with jealousy and confusion.  satan had her.  Did she ever let go of his hand? I don't know, can't know.  It is not for me to know.  I know that any of us can come into the Kingdom even in the last hour.

Martha was a wicked child playing house, playing pretend games for her sole entertainment.  How many of us are doing the same? Refusing self examination.  Jesus told us how we can be critical of every one else, see the mote in every one else's eye, but can't see the beam in our own.

I have learned that it is faith. Jesus came and rescued me from her brutal beatings when I called His name.  I was 8 years old and I have been hooked ever since. He has never failed me yet.  Not one of Martha's evil schemes worked out like she thought.  They all turned out for good.

Put all of your trust in the LORD children.  Remember;"Apart from Christ we are nothing."

May GOD's Grace, Mercy and Truth engulf you, cloak you in Perfect Peace,
Rachel Gwendolyn (the exceedingly proud granddaughter of a great Patriarch, JEROME WALTERS)

Copyright October 7, 2013       All rights reserved.