Running Home: The Prologue (2026 Reissue)

-

                                                                               Prologue 


Lincoln County, West Virginia
December 1974
 

 

 

My momma was the center of my universe, my best friend, and the most loving and faithful person that I knew. She was bold! Someone who loved Jesus, and you could tell how important He was to her by watching the way she lived: so full of joy. Momma was not afraid of death. She never wavered. Her faith remained strong until she took her final breath. I wish my faith was as strong as hers. My emotions grew deeper every second.

 

I love you, momma.

 

Thoughts and memories are all I have left now. The funeral service was scheduled for today and I didn’t know I was going to face one person, let alone a crowd. I wanted to escape and got lost in my thoughts completely. I wasn’t aware of what was going on around me. I could make out the silhouette of a man coming my way through the milky fog of the winter day.

 

“Excuse me, sir, I’m looking for someone who can tell me a little bit about Melda Lemaster,” the man announced. He tiptoed over to where I was. “I don’t know her that well and a lady pointed me in your direction.”  

 

He continued to come towards me. “Sir?”

 

When I didn’t respond, the man started to walk away.

 

“Call me Gordon. I’m her son.” I called out in a loud voice, surprised I had responded at all.

 

“I’m Pastor Perry,” he replied, shaking my hand nervously. “Pastor Brown is out of town this week, and I got asked to take over the funeral service for your mother.” He looked at me sympathetically. “I can only imagine how difficult this is for you, and I hate to impose, but I need to know a little bit about her before the service begins.

 

Tears welled up in my eyes as words began to form in my head.

 

“Of course you do. My momma was a true soldier. That word  describes her best.” It forever amazed me how a woman who went through so much could still serve the Lord and live her life to the fullest. I glanced up, realizing that Pastor Perry was waiting for me to say something else. He was a gracious man, motioning me towards a wooden bench under a nearby tree. We sat side by side and I found myself scrambling for words.

 

“ We have plenty of time,” He patted the space on the bench next to him gently. I took a seat. “Why don’t you tell me about this soldier of yours?”

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Source of Everlasting Strength

-
"Life may try to weigh you down, but never let it wear you out." I love that the Lord placed that particular phrase on my heart while thinking about how certain circumstances in our lives can become truly overwhelming. I never enjoy shining a light on all that I face physically, but I will today because it fits well within the message.  Many of you may remember that I experienced COVID last September; as a result, I have dealt with lasting fatigue that carries no reasonable medical explanation, although I am absolutely certain that  living with both cerebral palsy and PCOS may play a significant role. It's now difficult to exert any amount of energy at all. Completing even the tiniest of tasks often feels the same as climbing Mount Everest. Some of those days it seems as if everything weighs me down and wears me out. (writing honestly) I know many who struggle with SO much more than I do. I know I'm never alone in that battle. Maybe you're experiencing one of thos...
Read more

For The Messy Heart

-
Does anyone else actually enjoy cleaning their house or is it just me? When my mother was still working, my absolute favorite chore was laundry. (It may have taken me seven business days to put away my clothes, but I lived for washing, drying, and folding everything.) Adulting is never easy and keeping the rooms of your house clean can be quite overwhelming---especially for those who have everything going on all at once. It does seem as if there's never enough time in the day, doesn't it? Have you ever wanted to take on a "deep cleaning" project only to find that you are completely lost on where to start first? Maybe you've said "oh, I'll do it another day" because you couldn't find the courage or the confidence to face it all head-on.  As the clutter continues to build up and around you, the mess only brings about stress, anxiety, and darkening depression. Living in the midst of a mess will never bring you joy.  This analogy brings us right into...
Read more

Things To Remember When You Feel Like Quitting On God

-
Having the opportunity to serve the Lord through writing faith-based short stories and devotionals will forever be my greatest joy.  I have traveled along on the writing journey for about ten years now, yet it would be untruthful to tell you that I've never felt like quitting.  I know I have.  Have you ever felt that way? Are you in a season of distraction or discouragement?  The Lord placed this thought and those questions on my heart because I know that many others who remain faithful in serving the Lord in their own respective way are met with same opposition from Satan.  Sometimes it's difficult for you not to feel distracted and discouraged---as if the joy that you once held in your heart is somehow nowhere to be found. The good news is that while opposition will never go away on this side of Heaven, there are things to remember and tools that we can use to fight off those fiery darts and keep on keepin' on! (One of my all time favorite phrases) Today, I wa...
Read more