Everyone sat at the dining table, taking in the solemn moment. With all-black suits and puffy red eyes, everyone seemed distant, reflecting on what just occured. " I cant believe he's gone!", said Pam as she passed the plate of fried chicken to the left so others could serve themselves, " Uncle Jerry was only 54", she continued.
"I know how you feel. Jerry was my only brother.", Joe whispered with a sniffle. Joe and Jerry were one year apart, Joe being the younger. Everyone knew he would take it the hardest. "One thing for sure is that he loved my wife's collard greens with hamhocks.", he said with a half smile, trying to lighten the mood. "As a matter of fact let me get another scoop in his honor".
Joe's wife, Lisa, giggled. She was honored to have the best tasting collard greens in the family. "Yea he did love my greens. But I think he liked my fried smothered pork chops even more.", Lisa said. "Joe while you in the kitchen getting more greens can you dip me out a little more baked mac and cheese?", she asked."Yes baby," Joe replied.He went into the kitchen and returned to the table with their food. He could not take the picture of Jerry lying in the casket out of his mind. He was still not sure how he gathered the strength to deliver the funeral sermon. He began to weep silently as he buttered his cornbread.
Madea fell asleep on the couch after getting home from the funeral, but woke up to the sound of clattering dishes. "Joe!", she yelled from the living room. "Is that you in der? Come on in her' and wheel me up to the table so I can get some of dis her' food." Joe and his son Derek helped Madea to her wheel chair. Her left leg was surgically removed 6 months ago. Derek felt bad for his 71 year old granny and always tried to make sure she was happy. " You want me to fix your plate Madea?", Derek asked. Madea smiled. " You such a good boy. MMMHMM.Brang me some fruit punch to drank. My mouth dry. And put me a piece of dat pound cake on my plate", Madea said.
Madea felt drained. Watching her oldest son being lowered into the ground hit her heart heavy. She would miss seeing his face and hearing his laugh.Of course, she was proud of Joe being Assistant Pastor of the church now. But, she always had a special place in her heart for Jerry. He was the one who took care of her the most. When her husband died of a heart attack 10 years ago, Jerry took on all the responsibility of providing for her. Her stomach began to growl."Derek, who made dat potater' salad?", Madea asked as Derek presented her with a wealthy portion of food. " Pam", Derek responded. Madea was okay with that. She knew her grand daughter Pam used Regular Mayo. She couldn't stand the taste of Lite Mayo. " I made it", said Pam. " Madea you know it taste like your potato salad so quit trippin." Everyone laughed. Madea liked her food a certain way and wasn't having any substitutions. "You be quiet and pass me the salt." Madea fussed back.
Faith, Pam's five year old daughter, got up from the kids table and tapped her mom on the arm who was sitting with the adults. " You okay mommy?", she asked. Pam looked at her child with deep compassion and nodded her head. Faith was shocked to hear the laughter after seeing all the adults she trusted crying all morning long. " Mommy? Why did Uncle Jerry die?", Faith asked. "He got real sick baby" Pam replied. "Sick like when Madea lost her leg?", Faith said, as loudly as a curious child would. Everyone fell silent. "Yes, Faith. Now go sit down and I'll fix you a slice of pecan pie when you finish eating that fried okra left on your plate", Pam said very quickly. Faith ran back to her seat.
Joe looked around the table at his silent family. He cleared his throat, stood up and said, " The word of God says ask and it shall be given. Now we lost Jerry to sugar diabetes and high blood pressure. Daddy to a heart attack from diabetic heart disease. Momma just lost her leg from sugar diabetes. So I decree and declare that diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease will not take another member of my family! In the Name! I declare it! You cant have us Satan!". Joe began to rebuke Satan with all his might. The more he rebuked the louder he got. His wife Lisa layed her hands on Madea's shoulder and prayed earnestly. Faith and the other kids looked on in amazement. Madea lifted her arms praising God. The others yelled out "Amen", "My God" and "Yes Lord" . Joe looked at Madea pointed his finger and said , " I told that devil last night it stops here! Heey Glorray. We Thank you for Doing it God".
After everyone finished praising God for the victory, Pam got up to go to the kitchen to fix that slice of pie she promised Faith. " Anyone else want a slice of pecan pie?", she asked. Everyone said or nodded yes. Joe looked up still swaying in the spirit and said " Yes Pam, fix me two slices and give me some of that peach cobbler too .. and put some vanilla ice cream on it for me ."
--- I wrote this story for you. I think the point is clear. I hope all kingdom kids evaluate how they take care of themselves and their family. Stop praying for things that God has given you the power to change. Remember: Life is choice driven. We live and die by the choices we make. ---
with love~Lady Asriel Eford
"I know how you feel. Jerry was my only brother.", Joe whispered with a sniffle. Joe and Jerry were one year apart, Joe being the younger. Everyone knew he would take it the hardest. "One thing for sure is that he loved my wife's collard greens with hamhocks.", he said with a half smile, trying to lighten the mood. "As a matter of fact let me get another scoop in his honor".
Joe's wife, Lisa, giggled. She was honored to have the best tasting collard greens in the family. "Yea he did love my greens. But I think he liked my fried smothered pork chops even more.", Lisa said. "Joe while you in the kitchen getting more greens can you dip me out a little more baked mac and cheese?", she asked."Yes baby," Joe replied.He went into the kitchen and returned to the table with their food. He could not take the picture of Jerry lying in the casket out of his mind. He was still not sure how he gathered the strength to deliver the funeral sermon. He began to weep silently as he buttered his cornbread.
Madea fell asleep on the couch after getting home from the funeral, but woke up to the sound of clattering dishes. "Joe!", she yelled from the living room. "Is that you in der? Come on in her' and wheel me up to the table so I can get some of dis her' food." Joe and his son Derek helped Madea to her wheel chair. Her left leg was surgically removed 6 months ago. Derek felt bad for his 71 year old granny and always tried to make sure she was happy. " You want me to fix your plate Madea?", Derek asked. Madea smiled. " You such a good boy. MMMHMM.Brang me some fruit punch to drank. My mouth dry. And put me a piece of dat pound cake on my plate", Madea said.
Madea felt drained. Watching her oldest son being lowered into the ground hit her heart heavy. She would miss seeing his face and hearing his laugh.Of course, she was proud of Joe being Assistant Pastor of the church now. But, she always had a special place in her heart for Jerry. He was the one who took care of her the most. When her husband died of a heart attack 10 years ago, Jerry took on all the responsibility of providing for her. Her stomach began to growl."Derek, who made dat potater' salad?", Madea asked as Derek presented her with a wealthy portion of food. " Pam", Derek responded. Madea was okay with that. She knew her grand daughter Pam used Regular Mayo. She couldn't stand the taste of Lite Mayo. " I made it", said Pam. " Madea you know it taste like your potato salad so quit trippin." Everyone laughed. Madea liked her food a certain way and wasn't having any substitutions. "You be quiet and pass me the salt." Madea fussed back.
Faith, Pam's five year old daughter, got up from the kids table and tapped her mom on the arm who was sitting with the adults. " You okay mommy?", she asked. Pam looked at her child with deep compassion and nodded her head. Faith was shocked to hear the laughter after seeing all the adults she trusted crying all morning long. " Mommy? Why did Uncle Jerry die?", Faith asked. "He got real sick baby" Pam replied. "Sick like when Madea lost her leg?", Faith said, as loudly as a curious child would. Everyone fell silent. "Yes, Faith. Now go sit down and I'll fix you a slice of pecan pie when you finish eating that fried okra left on your plate", Pam said very quickly. Faith ran back to her seat.
Joe looked around the table at his silent family. He cleared his throat, stood up and said, " The word of God says ask and it shall be given. Now we lost Jerry to sugar diabetes and high blood pressure. Daddy to a heart attack from diabetic heart disease. Momma just lost her leg from sugar diabetes. So I decree and declare that diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease will not take another member of my family! In the Name! I declare it! You cant have us Satan!". Joe began to rebuke Satan with all his might. The more he rebuked the louder he got. His wife Lisa layed her hands on Madea's shoulder and prayed earnestly. Faith and the other kids looked on in amazement. Madea lifted her arms praising God. The others yelled out "Amen", "My God" and "Yes Lord" . Joe looked at Madea pointed his finger and said , " I told that devil last night it stops here! Heey Glorray. We Thank you for Doing it God".
After everyone finished praising God for the victory, Pam got up to go to the kitchen to fix that slice of pie she promised Faith. " Anyone else want a slice of pecan pie?", she asked. Everyone said or nodded yes. Joe looked up still swaying in the spirit and said " Yes Pam, fix me two slices and give me some of that peach cobbler too .. and put some vanilla ice cream on it for me ."
--- I wrote this story for you. I think the point is clear. I hope all kingdom kids evaluate how they take care of themselves and their family. Stop praying for things that God has given you the power to change. Remember: Life is choice driven. We live and die by the choices we make. ---
with love~Lady Asriel Eford
