Celebrate Family

I was reflecting today as I often do, and while doing so I realized it has been 25 years since my grandmother, Marcella Rush, (Da'Ma, as we affectionally called her) went home to be with the Lord. Upon this realization also came the awareness of how we often take life and all it holds for granted. Almost 30 years ago when I was shot and the doctors performed a surgery that miraculously saved my life I was newly married and awaiting the birth of my first child. Preparing to celebrate a new family. When I contracted the coronavirus I had recently returned from Kentucky and Ohio where I celebrated Thanksgiving with family. So, as one who is currently recovering from the effects of the coronavirus, I can tell you that death is standing right outside the door and can take you unawares. Making the celebration of family that much more important.

When Da'Ma last spoke to me she gave me a charge, and it was to do my best to keep our family connected. It was a charge which was somewhat contradictory to her caution to me the three previous years. That caution was, "Now you don't go to Iowa until the Lord tells you to or you will surely find trouble there." By trouble, I knew she meant that I and my mom would clash because we had been estranged for many years, and although I was in the ministry and no longer the child my mom remembered; as far as she was concerned I was still no good. My siblings did not know me, because other than my wedding three years before Da’Ma’s death they had not seen me since we were kids and we had little communication.

So, when Da'Ma went home to be with the Lord my first act was to reach out to my mom and siblings after the funeral. We all gathered at Shoney's in Akron for a meal and sadly like many families when a loved one has passed on there was more bickering than extending care and comfort. However, I am glad to say the lines of communication remained open and after a few years, the Lord opened the door for me to attend my brother's wedding. At the wedding reception, I met my sister-in-law's father who did not like preachers, but we became the best of friends over drinks.

I also baptized my nephew (Little Will) during that visit and my mom remembered that Da'Ma had told her many years previously that one day I would come and things between us would be different. After that first visit, I made it a point to travel to Iowa at least once or twice a year. I reestablished the relationship with my siblings, met my nieces and nephews, and we celebrated family. Over the years those celebrations have included friends of my siblings and nieces and nephews because Mom was affectionately known as Granny, so if there was a family gathering all were welcome. Many of my visits were on or around my mother's birthday because it was a time to celebrate her as the family matriarch.

Granny has been gone a few years now, and although I have not visited Iowa every year since her passing; my siblings and I communicate by phone and social media regularly. Therefore, as I remember Da'Ma 25 years after she has gone to be with the Lord, as I think on those things I have failed to do, and those things I have yet to do; I thank her for those things which I have done which have kept our family connected.