I write this now as it is fresh on my mind to remind myself and others about markers and memorials. Thank you James Sparks. This is for my grandkids.

In 1979 a rebellious kid was kicked out of public school and put in a tiny private school. It was then that he first met your Grammy, Patty Jean Mitchell. In 1980, I graduated, but more importantly, gave my life to the Lord during a chapel service at school.

Later that year the Lord called me to preach. In 1985, the Lord showed me who would be my wife. It was your Grammy. I was 22, she was 15. She couldn’t stand me. Yet, the Lord told me. He told others that confirmed it. He told her pastor’s wife, Betty Howell, we call her Gran. Your Grammy had no idea.

In 1987, right around Thanksgiving, I went to see her at her job. She asked what I wanted for Christmas. I said I had all I needed except a wife and kids. She jokingly said she could give me half of that. The next day, I sent her flowers. She began to yell “I’m getting married.” Her coworkers laughed and said, but you don’t even have a boyfriend.

That night, at your Grandma and Pop’s house, she said yes. We had never been on a date, held hands, nothing. Our first ever kiss was that night after she put on her ring.

In May, 1988, we were married. It is still the most memorable day of my life. Our marriage, like your Grammy, was a God thing.

In 1989, we lost our first child, before he was born. His name is Michael. He is waiting to meet you in Heaven.

In 1991, your mama was born…Allyson. She was the beginning of the fulfilling of your Grammy’s greatest desire, to be a mommy.

In 1992, your Lala was born…Hollyann. Pregnancy was hard on Grammy. But her desire to be a mommy was strong.

In 1996, came Joshua. Your Uncle Bubba. Carrying this child almost killed your Grammy, but giving me a son was more important to her than anything

else. Three children now, her life complete. She devoted herself to teaching them about Jesus, raising good kids, and being the best mommy ever. She was, and she saw her three children each give their hearts to Jesus.

2003. A fluke mistake during a routine surgery, changed our lives.

2010, she flatlined for the first time. We clung to the verse Psalm 118:17 and I said over and over, she will live and not die. She didn’t.

Over the next several years there were more flatlines, countless doctors and surgeries but she fought to live. She fought to live for her kids, her family…me.

2017 brought a new milestone. A grandchild was to be born. I believe with all of my heart that announcement gave your Grammy a goal to live for. She could now be called… Grammy.

May, 2018 that grandchild was born. It was you Isaac. Right there in that hospital I saw a light in your Grammy’s eyes that had grown pretty dim. She had the most beautiful blue eyes that ever were, but that day, they were brighter. She was the first to hold you after mom and dad. She looked at you the same way she looked at your mom on the day she was born.

The next couple months she held her grandson, sang songs to him and spoke of him as if he was the greatest gift from God ever.

September 2018. Your Grammy, realizing her life goals of being a great mommy, and after holding a life that sprang from a life that sprang from her, went home to be with Jesus.

After 15 years of fighting, 15 years of surgeries, doctors, pain and weakness, she saw that her race was run. She fought the good fight of faith. Now she is in Heaven with Pops and Michael…waiting for us to join her.

We will one day, but we have more milestones to make. More memorials. More hearts to win for Jesus.

I can never be Grammy for my grandkids, there are three now. Milestones in 2018, 2020 and 2023. But it is my fervent desire to make more markers with them, see them give their hearts to Jesus, and be the very best Grandy I can be. The light she carried in her eyes for her kids, and Isaac, now lives in my eyes, and I pray she sees them, through me.

As we go through another year, I would encourage all of you to take the time to make the memories, set the markers and leave the milestones in your lives. You never know when someone coming along behind you might need them to find their way.