WWJD

<<<WWJD>>>

Wait. Hang on a minute or 5. Don’t stop reading on account of your thinking you know what I’m about to say.

Because, I really don’t think you do.

If you’re old enough to remember & to have been a part of the fad, “WWJD”, then you already know it was a wildly popular catchphrase that stood for “What Would Jesus Do.” As a teen, we proudly wore the braided, multi-colored bracelets with the bold, block font letters emblazoned in white, absolutely everywhere.

And sometimes when my mind wanders back in time, I recall things like this. Small things that don’t really matter at all: like slap bracelets, and Fun-dip… jelly shoes or plastic charm necklaces with oddities like tiny toilets and whistles. The whistle was canary yellow. Yall. I cannot even remember what I did yesterday, but I remember every single plastic charm that I owned.

Anyway, upon my recent reflections, it seemed appropriate, and not blasphemous at all, to say to myself-

“What Would Jo Do?”

Nope, not a typo. Jo.

I actually ask myself this all the time now.

When life feels unstable, unsteady or overwhelming and I can feel myself looking for a table to hide underneath-I ask that question until I feel more grounded.

No doubt my focus is on my relationship with Christ. But sometimes in the heat of the moment Jesus may seem too lofty of a goal and I just gotta get through whatever it is …so I ask myself, what would she do???

A huge reason I am who I am is because of…Jo.

That’s right. My mama.

I could write a book about her and I can’t wait until the day I do. She deserves ALL of it to be heard. She is a walking, talking testimony.

But utill then, suffice it to say… I admire her steadfast spirit far beyond my words could ever express.

She has been through enough challenges to fill up too many chapters in my still unwritten book.

She lost her firstborn when he was only 3 months old- her FIRST son, my father’s namesake. She wasn’t even afforded the tools and therapy that people need to try to grieve properly. She was expected to return to work and her normal routine shortly after his funeral.

She also nearly died from a bizarre infection and had to have emergency brain surgery 20 years ago after suffering from a stroke. She then had to learn to walk and talk normally all over again.

AND…For the past 9 years she has lived with and still battles fiercely, thyroid cancer. And yet in between all of those “highlights” came even more challenges and heartbreak.

But she persevered.

She persisted.

She came close to quitting a few times, but she nearly always came back mostly stronger. Not necessarily physically- she’s in her 70’s now and honestly, no one should expect someone in their 70’s to be physically powerful.

And here we are, despite the many hurdles both past and present, we’re blessed to celebrate another year.

It’s her birthday.

And if I were to ask what would Jo do today, it is most certainly NOT write about herself nor say anything about her birthday.

She’s as humble as they come. Almost to a fault, but nevertheless all my mother cares about is that when you look at her, when you see or hear her speak- that you eventually circle back to the truth that is- Christ loves you.

She is selfless. She doesn’t judge. She is giving. She is devoted. She is forgiving. She gives 110 percent to her job and any duties she is responsible for. She listens… TRULY listens. Anyone growing up around us knew that if they needed ANYTHING at ANY point, if she was able, she would help somehow. ALWAYS.

So anyway, in honor of always asking what my mama would do, I shall (in typical daughterly behavior) do the exact opposite, and ask that you all wish my mama, Jo, a big, huge Happy Birthday.

Pic of my mama (Jo) with my youngest, Hannah that will probably be forever one of my most favorite photos of her.