"If You Can't Say Amen, Say Oh Me"

Growing up, this was a phrase I heard often in church. Brother John would say this when the congregation wasn't being sufficiently stirred during his sermon. And inevitably, my Grandma would reply, "oh me." No, not a whisper or a mumble, but really LOUD. "OH ME!" From the back row, no less. She was also known to meet up with Brother John after church, to tell him what he had gotten wrong, or how he could have done better. She would even have notes for him. I kid you not, he spoke about it during her eulogy 20 years ago. I find it amazing that she had the time to do all of that AND show me how to make a Snoopy out of a cursive D and a chicken out of a cursive S, during church. The ultimate multitasker, I tell ya.

Those events along with ice cream socials (where every flavor of homeade ice cream imaginable would be served on tables in the parking lot), Vacation Bible School (and having our snack behind the church, and rolling down the grass hill, over and over), and Christmas Cantata's (I even remember some of the songs. "Number one, it's just begun, God should be first in your life. Number two's the golden rule, those graven images aren't nice. Number three God's name should be never spoken in jest... I could do all ten, but I'm getting off point). These and other events in my past have molded me into the person I am today. Between my family and my chruch, I learned humility, honesty, the Golden Rule, compassion, and the value of hard work. I have always known that Christmas isn't about gifts or vacation, but the birth of Jesus Christ. That Easter isn't about candy or a bunny, but about the death and resurrection of Him.

I find it as a source of pride that one of our favorite family story's isn't when great uncle so and so made his first million, but that my great uncle Henry was a carpenter who would turn down lucrative building jobs. He would rather stand by his principles than take a job where he might have to turn away from wrong-doing, where his boss may cut corners or cheat people. He knew that nothing was worth defying his principles, not even jobs that would have undoubtably made his life 'easier,' more comfortable. I love it that Henry learned his carpentry skills from his brother Tom, my great grandfather, a builder and part-time Baptist preacher who was know for his rousing sermons.

Yes, I come from a long line of Baptist believers. From the preachers to the deacons (both of my grandfathers were respected deacons), and of course my Mammaw, who could play and sing old hymnals by heart up until she died at 94. You can follow my family's migration from Virginia down to Arkansas with the movement of the Baptist church.

Looking at my background, you may think, 'well duh, it's easy for you to believe the way you do.' Well, guess what? It's not always easy. I have gone through times in my life where my path has veered away from God. I've always come back, but it can be difficult. I don't enjoy being looked down upon, seen by some as idiotic to believe the Gospel. 'A virgin-born Savior? Really Mandi, you believe that?' And I remember hearing at a young age that Christians would be persecuted. I never really believed it, mostly because I had never heard anyone contradict what I had learned. I have found that yes, Christians are persecuted, in big ways and small. I don't want to come across as some victim, because I certainly am not. But it does bruise my ego a bit to be thought of as unintelligent.

Funny thing, I've been going to Bible study lately, and we have been going over I Corinthians. So far it has been about preaching style, and how Paul admonished the Corinthians for praising style over message. My favorite passage is "your faith should not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." I Corinthians 2:5 (more in I Corinthians, especially in 10-16, go read it! Or google it if you don't have a Bible handy). So, as my marathon coach Rich always said, "if it were easy, everyone would do it" (of course he was talking about running a marathon, but I think it applies here, too). Ultimately, I have learned that my relationship and belief in God means more to me than any man (or woman's) opinion.

So no, it's not easy. I think it's easier for some than others, but - as usual - life happens, and you can be tested. I've found that I can be as a petulant child at times, whining to God when things don't go my way. Thankfully those episodes only last about day; not weeks, months, or even years like before. I am finally, finally on my way to where I want to be.

And, of course, as with everything else in my life, I owe it all to God. He saw fit to place me in a loving family. I am grateful for the humility and decency of my ancestors. For the most part, they knew the importance of living a principled life outweighed the benefits they could have felt from ill-gotten gain. That means more and does more for me than any trust fund could ever do.

So, as I hop-skip-and-jump my way along this journey of mine, I'm going to focus more on the Amen's and less on the Oh Me's (I will leave that to the loving memory of my Grandma's comedic timing). I finally understand that my salvation is a gift from God, and my acceptance of that was made easier by my lineage. It is my inheritance, and for that I am extremely grateful.

Dear Lord, I am ready to serve the purpose for which you have made me. Be it by word or by deed, please show me the absolute best way that my life can honor you. Thank you for all the blessings you've bestowed upon me, and forgive me of my sins. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.