Reverb14: Jessie Mae’s Legacy

Today’s Reverb prompt came from my Noël Rozny: 

We are all lightning rods, conduits for that which the Universe wants born into this world. What energies did you channel this year?

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This year I channeled the energy of my deceased grandmother Jessie Mae. I still vividly remember the day I got the news that my grandmother had died over 18 years ago. It was early in the morning and I was getting ready for school (I was in 8th grade at the time). My grandmother had been in the hospital on life support for some weeks when her heart began to fail her.

My father called me and my brother downstairs. I remember knowing that it was going to be bad news. Me and my younger brother stood at the top of the stairs and I saw my Mom’s face. She quietly said “Grandmama  passed away this morning.” I sat on the top of the stairs and cried while my brother ran down the stairs into my mother’s arms.

Many years would go by when I would feel distant from the memory of my grandmother, trying hard to remember her face, her voice, her grace. A few years ago, though, I started to feel her presence again. This year, though, her energy around me was stronger than ever, prompting me to write words that seemed to be coming right from her to the pen in my hand.

This year that energy was around me constantly and I gave that energy to the world. My grandmother had a quiet strength about her, having raised 13 kids, countless grand children, and growing up in the very segregated south. She also love music and one thing she always wanted to do was play the guitar, which unfortunately never happened before she died. I had tried to play the guitar years ago but gave up, giving it away suddenly. This year I felt a renewed interest in it and remembered my grandmother’s desire.

Everyday I practice I feel her near. Every time I show grace and joy even under tough circumstances. Every time I life my head up in the midst of defeat. Every time I encourage people as she did time and time again, I  know this for sure:  that her legacy lives on and moves through me each day just as it showed itself strongly this year.

xo

K