Dwelling in the House of Hearts

Read: II Timothy 4:1-8

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures, and he leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in the path of righteousness for His namesake. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, because You are with me. Your rod and your staff comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of mine enemies, and you anointed my head with oil. Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and my cup runs over. I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Amen. (Words from my mind borne out of Psalm 23)
She lives in the chambers of my heart. It is safe for her there. It felt safe for me, when she maintained my place in her chamber of heart. A Mother-in-law of highest order. No one ever has lived or is living or shall live, who could be better in the ethical sense as a physical, legal, and moral Mother-in-law. Annie Lee Davis (January 29, 1936 - May 19, 2008). In the natural history sense the marriage of her daughter, Connie, and I last beyond the rearing of our offspring. Before Mrs. Davis died, she shared her view on marriage, when I visited her house during a period of struggle. She said: "You are family. God determined that, Luonne." I hear her voice on the regular. The grave does not silence her, because she is not of death. She is a woman of God.
Born in Washington, D.C., the Capitol of the United States of America. She was nurtured in Philadelphia, Pennslyvania until 10 years of age. She desired to be raised in Hagood, South Carolina in response to the undeniable love she found in her grandparents, the late Bennie and Annie Osborne Reynolds. Mr. Bennie Reynolds died prior to my entrance into her life. However, I met Mrs. Annie Reynolds and the sincerity in her was beyond measure. She was a "pistol" shooting bullets of honesty. So much truth and love. It was easy to understand why a child would want to live with her, she was the model Grandmother, Great-grandmother, and Great-great grandmother having held and nurtured our daughter - Lanecia. Women of God, women of integrity, women of grace, etc... a heritage for our children. I write this about Annie Lee Davis, who I came to know and love as an eternal soul.
She was present at the key events of our lives. The day before I was legally her son-in-law, she came to my defense and no matter the circumstance she maintained defense of my being a child of God unto death and beyond. She never waivered from being there for me. In April of 2002, when I broke down in grief over the death of my Mother, Mrs. Davis said: "Luonne, she don't want you to cry. Stop now, you will have me as your Mother, too." I saw her face. I knew she spoke in truth. She kept her word.
Like a "Good Shepherd," she led me and would not allow me to be outside the fold. She had the right words at the right time and in the right way to focus me on my vocational call, and my responsibility as a man of integrity and godliness. Where is my Mother? Where is my Mother-in-law? They are both in my chamber of heart. They will live there and comfort me til the day...and beyond...into our Dwelling in the House of Hearts.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, and open the door to eternity. Amen.