The New Year has begun, and though it is a new season I cannot forget the things in life that have made me whom and what I am in Christ! January 1st marks a new year yes yet more importantly it marks the Birthday of my hero in the faith! On a rainy morning in late August 1994 my grandmother headed to the store to run some errands like any other day, yet not in so many ways which would be clear the older I grew! She had asked my  Dad over and over again to let me go with her, normally my Dad would let me spend the entire day with Grandma, on this particular day he refused. We had breakfast with her and then off she went to do her shopping. Coming back as she was not but ten minutes from home a young man would fall asleep at the wheel and come straight over into her lane on the one way highway! Hitting her dead on there was no way for her to escape with the truck sealing her off from the left and to the right locking her in the guard rail, Heaven only knows what she thought in those last few moments. Jaws of life would have to come to even get her body out of the car! The young man would survive the accident, a rookie mistake just 17 and had been driving all night from dropping sister and mother off at the airport. I don't know where he is today yet i pray he has  found Heaven's grace and is comforted! I will never forget that day as long as I live. As my parents and I drove out in our big red truck from the wooded driveway, a police man stopped us. Daddy got out and I remember seeing Daddy lean heavily on the truck, the windows were partially down, I strained to hear what made Dad so upset, I caught the words DEAD and ACCIDENT, there the crusher came YOUR MOM. My little mind started spinning not Grandma no couldn't be I struggled inside. I got out and looked up at Dad, his eyes met mine and I knew the answer! Dad picked me up and set me on the hood of the truck. I sat there numb, no Grandma was coming back I would see her at dinner that night my brain kept saying! The Officer then left, we got back into the car, turned around and went straight home. There was no work that day time itself stood still. We rounded the bend and somehow found our way through the front door of the house, VJ and Christian my little brothers were confused being so little. Mom picked of VJ and set him on the counter and said do you understand what happened, he shook his head. Then mom said it Grandma went to see Jesus and will not be coming back ever again! Days went by the funeral came I remember looking into that beautiful face longing for her to say something, I stood there for a long time peering at her on my tip toes! I wept that day and haven't cried as hard as I did then! Months went by Grandpa was quiet and didn't say much in those days and who could blame him. As time went by mom would often find me crying a lot.
   One day I came downstairs after crying and said mom I want to see Grandma again and I know I can't cause I will go straight to Hell if I die today! Mom sat down on the couch  with me and we talked for a long time! I had made up my mind everything my parents had taught me wasn't a joke Grandma's death made that a reality for me! I wanted to serve and love the Lord she and my parents lived for with all my heart! I wanted to be headed for Heaven the rest of my days and be rid of my filthy sins! That day my entire life changed, I became a Christian my life was now the Lord's, I was free to serve my Savior, New Hope surged through my little heart. Yes I would now see my Grandma again, yet even better I knew I would one day see the King of Kings! From a wicked selfish child of wrath, to a servant of the most high. My Grandmother's death brought new life in Christ! I am forever thankful for the example of my Grandma she loved the Lord with a passion, she is my hero because of what God did in her life! May I become more like my Savior this new year! Happy Birthday Grandma Bruce