Eulogy for Mamaw Nita, Goodbye...

Hey, everyone. I'm Stacy. I am the lucky one who holds the "1st grand baby" title. I call Juanita my Mamaw Nita. That is who she was to me and my sister steph, our Mamaw! Then ol Zac came along a threw Steph off course by calling her Nana Nita. Nana Nita. Huh? i thought about it awhile, pondered the name,  But ultimately, I refused to switch over. She will always be Mamaw Nita to me. Well,  This last week as She was holding on to life this side of heaven, I spent a lot of time wrestling with memories of the many moments She had encouraged  me. I think if you allow yourself to go back in time into the your memories,  you will agree that Mamaw Nita  was a giver of light.  SHe had a smile that was  welcoming, a voice that was so warm and kind, and the way her eyes sparkled when you made her laugh was all the more reason to act silly. One thing is certain: she was just so easy to talk to, there was never a topic she wouldn't dig into. As   I thought back about my time spent with her, I saw myself at many stages from childhood through adulthood when I had turned to her for wisdom. I thought about the bazillions of times I was "sick" from school-and she literally whipped up every item on the breakfast menu in 15 minutes, and would then check on me about every 7 minutes to make sure I was comfortable. She'd tuck me in, fluff my pillow and re-do it if needed. ... and I also recalled her staying positive when my baby sister was born with Down Syndrome, she just went on keeping the faith that Syd would be just fine and she is... I really enjoy this one memory, i can see us sitting on her floor one afternoon as I desperately questioned her about the salvation of a teen who had died in a car crash when I was about 11-I was so scared and she was so peace illuminating. She helped me sort through my thoughts and I walked away from her house feeling better.. I can hear how she'd sing her heart out like it was just her and Jesus in the room, and I appreciate how she always encouraged us to praise God through songwriting and to be a voice to the lost. About 10 years ago, When Chris and I found out we were pregnant, even though we weren't married-she was happy not judgmental in the least, she felt excited about a great grand baby...then In my adulthood, she spoke peace to my stress while I was  struggling balance being a good mom and a good teacher ... and after I'd call her and unleash my sadness and brokenness, she'd pray for me, and I love how when she prayed-she believed. She just trusted that it was done. She knew her Bible and that woman took God at his word, she always shared her views but was never forceful or offended if you didn't interpret it her way. Altogether, she was light  to me. Just a radiant light.  I'll never ever forget the handprints she's left on my spiritual journey...I am who I am because of her prayer legacy. And her legacy didn't just plant seeds in me. When I think about my dad and my uncle Tracy, and the men the turned out to be . They are hard workers, they are family men. Today, good daddies are hard to come by and obviously  Mamaw Nita and Papaw David did something right. They raised young men who became the  kind of daddies that were present both spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Me, steph and Zac could not have asked for better daddies and she had a whole lot to do with that and I could never  thank her enough.  And, I look back on when it was my turn to pray and believe as an adult. . I watch in my mind, me and my little girls praying with her and speaking healing over her in her room and telling God that if healing is only available in the heavenly realm, then send angels to clothe her Spirit with the righteousness of Jesus and lift her to glory... And, that's  why we are all here this very moment. Mamaw Nita walked right into her most glorious moment on December 26th. And   While we mourn the loss of her in this earthly realm. She is standing in the presence of God Almighty with hands raised and a voice belting out His praises, which is what she loved to do here... We know that this moment heaven has received a bit of the light  we all were so blessed to get to encounter while she was here and that there is definitely  a gospel-music revival and celebration taking place in the spiritual realm right now.