Whitnee's journey with Christ

“In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

-Martin Luther King Jr.

“As the father loved me, I also loved you; abide in My love.”
“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
Full scripture today comes from John 15:9–17

The two o’clock hour was approaching and my stomach was acting like it “wanted to break out of jail” so I decided to go downstairs to the cafeteria to see what they had for the day.

Some days are truly hit or miss- you don’t know whether you are going to eat with a smile or simply just be thankful you have something to coat your stomach. There’s nothing like home and a home cooked meal. Let’s just say I’ve had my fair share of the expensive and most times unfulfilling food- but like I said something is better than nothing.

I had been texting a friend and got side tracked by my mom so as I got dressed I received a text that said, “what did you eat for lunch.” In my mind I’m thinking, “Oh goodness, I hope she is not thinking I am starving myself.” So with lots of hesitation I replied, “I am about to go to the cafeteria to eat although I really don’t want that.”

The conversation went back and fourth with her asking what would I like to eat and finally she told me she was in Charleston and was going to bring me something to eat. I thought, “well I’ll be a monkeys uncle.” I would have never thought in a million years Jamika and her family were in Charleston! I had spoken to her and she had not mentioned it, then I thought well gosh maybe she did and I’m a horrible friend and could have forgotten.

Some time went by and as I was getting “hangry”, she texted and said I could come downstairs. Due to the coronavirus I had only gone outside one time since May 29th and to be honest I knew I needed some free Vitamin D. I told my mom I was going downstairs and going to stand outside for a few moments and she quickly responded “no” with the shaking of her little head. I said “okay mom.” I knew I was being bad but didn’t want to upset my mom- I decided to step out on faith while being very precautious.

When I went outside I felt like I had come out of my balloon. Jamika and her family were in the wrong place so as I sat outside I looked around at the big blue skies, the people sitting under the tree laughing, and the man on the bike who looked like “he was the man with the plan.”

As Jamika and her family pulled up I felt like a little girl sneaking out the window to see her boyfriend. As the white caravan rolled up I smiled so hard my cheeks started hurting. I just wanted to hug them or (fist bump due to the coronavirus). Due to the busyness of the area she had to pull around twice and create her own parking spot.

We talked, we laughed, we shared, and SHE CARED! Jamika had not only went to get me Lima beans, collard greens, chicken wings, and yellow rice, with a bottled water but her and Laurence picked up a care package for my mom and eye. She gave me mom the most beautiful flowers and card and had a very heavy gift bag for me.

It’s like God told her what I needed without me saying anything. Our most recent conversations we were talking about the birthday plans for her boys. Who would have guessed she would have known I had just run out of healthy snacks, that I get bored and like to doodle, that the journal I’m writing in was almost full, and so much more.

I’ve never had to be away from my husband and kids this long and feeling a little home sick it was good to see such familiar beautiful faces. As I looked at the back seat and the sweet sounds of “Hey Mrs. Whitnee,” I smiled with anticipation knowing soon enough, in God’s timing I would be greeted in the driveway of my home by my little rascals.

We chatted for a while, well quite some time because by the time I got upstairs the food was cold but I didn’t care I ate it cold because I appreciated her acts of kindness of the gesture. To think, she came from Isle of Palms just to show love and support. I was so amazed, I think I gave Jamika 3 or 4 hugs. For you all who don’t know Jamika works in the health care field at a local hospital and currently in school for nursing, so if I risked hugging anyone it would be the person who could potentially save my life if things went wrong.

I came upstairs and my moms eyes were big! The only thing that saved her “jumping down my throat” is me telling her the flowers and card were for her. Emma, the nurse for the day took the time to put them in water and put them in my moms eyesight. If only you could see that big beautiful smile on her face. She asked me to take a picture so she could cherish the moment.

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your thirst should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name; He may give you.

John 15: 16

God wants us to live productive lives. He wants us to fulfill a specific purpose for His kingdom. As it relates to loving one another, everyone who is reading this message is fulfilling God’s purpose by loving, caring, supporting, praying for, my mom and our family.

I mean I wish I could list each of you by name but you know who you are. Whether we have talked over the phone, via text, prayed for one another, crossed paths, took a trip out of their way just to make sure my mom or I didn’t go without, WHATEVER TOU HAVE DONE OR DO on behalf of my mom I say THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU and may God richly bless you and your family!

I know I was long winded just to say thank you in the end but my heart is so full of joy and gratitude. First and most importantly I’m thankful for God for waking us up this morning and starting us on our way in our right mind. I’m thankful God is keeping my mom and healing her from the inside out, I’m thankful that she provides His strength, His knowledge, and His willpower for me to endure, for me to thrive, and for me to keep the faith. I thank God for this time to commune with Him and to have devotional time with Him, I find joy in spending time with my Heavenly Father. Oh how the Word of God is living and growing inside of me. Hallelujah Jesus!!!!!

“A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.”

-Walter Winchell

I thank God for my loving and supportive husband, my heartbeat (children), amazing family, my friends, my church family, and all of my sisters and brothers in Christ. Praise God for community this morning! Praise God for allowing me to feel like I’m being visited by hundreds of people daily because of YOUR PRAYERS, your attention, your LOVE, and your presence whether in spirit or in person. I thank you.

To Jamika, Laurence, Delorian, Lauryn, Darius, and Demarcus you don’t know how much you made Mrs. Whitnee’s day. To each of you, YOU make my life happy! Thanks for being a friend!

Now sorry to bother you, could I ask one more favor??? Don’t leave without leaving a comment thanking God for His love. Even if you type Amen God gets the glory!!! So keep on scrolling you almost there, you have to click post comment for it to work. See pic