My Gift from God!

What an awesome day! Saturday, May 23 at 8:30 a.m. I found out that I was carrying God's anointed seed in my womb. Today was my first prenatal visit where I was able to see the baby for the first time. The first person I called after taking the pregnancy test Saturday was my Aunt Brenda. I called her first because she has become a great depositor in my life. She deposits faith, dream building, encouragement and understanding into me. My whole goal in life is to become a great depositor in others lives. While growing up, I had a whole lot of people who sowed negative seeds but they didn't take root, Praise God! I become a born-again Christian at the tender age of 13 and God placed some truly magnificent people in my life to guide me along the way. As I celebrate the wonderful news of becoming a first-time mother, I would like to acknowledge God and his great supporting cast of Women and Men of God who helped me get where I am today.

1.) My grandmothers, Esther Rogers & Thelma Burleson. Actually, I know God is sovereign and can do anything at anytime, but it was my grandmother's, Thelma zeal for God and worshiping Him in Spirit and Truth that lead me to salvation. I know this will sound funny, but I was actually mimicking my grandmother in church when God touched me and brought me out of darkness. God has such a sense of humor:-). After that day, we became inseparable. As a young Christian with a zeal for God, My grandmother and I went to mission workshops together on Saturdays, thrift stores on second Tuesdays and she even walked with me to the movies to see The Body Guard. If anyone out there is Pentecostal, you know how terrible that went...lol. My other grandmother was a little firecracker and inspiration for all blacks during her time. She didnt' take mess off no one, including the police. My grandma Esther was so strong-willed that one summer my brother and cousins stole bicycles and lead the police to her house. When they knocked on her door to indict her grandsons, she stood up to them and declared her grandsons were innocent. Even though they knew the truth, they wouldn't dare stand up to Miss Ester. Believe me when I say, those boys got their punishment after the police left..lol. Seriously, I couldn't do my grandmother justice on this blog. That's how large her life actually was. She was loved by all her children, grandchildren, and neighbors. They just don't make'em like Miss Ester anymore.

2.) My Spiritual Mother, Bridgette Black. What a powerful woman to know during the first years of my being a Christian. Sis. Black was our Sunday School teacher, one of our youth department leaders but most importantly, she was the strongest woman I had ever known. Growing up without a full-time mom, I didn't really understand what it was like to be a Christian Woman. Well, Sis. Black answered all of those questions for me. She was unwavering in her faith, sincere in her service and bold in her declaration of her love for God. I would watch how she dressed, spoke and ministered to the people of God. I'll never forget one Sunday, she had come to church with a really nice fancy hair-do. I couldn't pay attention to the Sunday School lesson for watching her hair. In the middle of her lesson, she stopped abruptly and scolded my Aunt Miracle and I for not paying attention to the lesson but to her hair..lol. I spent a many a minutes in the Ladies restroom at Mt. Rose M.B.C. getting counselling and words of wisdom from my precious, Sis. Black. She also was the first woman to open my eyes to my outward beauty. I was such a tomboy growing up, playing sports, climbing trees and running after my brother, that I didn't look at myself as pretty or feminine. One Easter season, my Spiritual mother took me to the mall to buy my outfit. We tried on several, but there was one that I tried on that showed the outline of my shape. She exclaimed with extreme pride, "Nichole, you are so fine." Well, I didn't know what in the world she was talking about. She laughed and said, "I'm not talking spiritual but I'm talking about your body. You have a nice shape." That was my first indication that I had a beautiful outside to match my inside. Bridgette has always been a down-to-earth woman of God who can communicate with everybody on their level. I am forever indebted to Sis. Bridgette Black for what she has deposited in my life.

3.) My God-mother, Vanessa Matthews. I didn't have God-parents until I became 16 years old. At least I didn't know about them if I had them. It was because of my love for God and his people that I ended up becoming Sis. Matthews god-daughter. I was at a mission workshop one Saturday when my grandparents said we had to drop by the hospital to see one of the members. It was Vanessa Matthews. Her husband Issac Matthews was a minister at the church. After the visit to the hospital, I believe Sis. Matthews commented that she always wished she had a girl. She only had Kevin Matthews, my God-brother. Somehow she took me under her wings and became my God-mother. I was so happy on Saturday's when she would pick me up and take me to the beauty shop. It was a dream come true. I had someone who wanted to spoil me and treat me like their daughter. I love my God-mother so much and I believe God will cause our paths to cross.

4.) My Spiritual Mother, Paulette Mitchell. It is so amazing that the world is just recognizing what the people of God have been knowing for generations, It's takes a village to raise a child. I cannot quantify the impact this powerful woman of God has had on my life. Paulette shared her life with me in many intimate ways. She brought me to her home, along with my aunt Miracle and gave us personal access to her. She counselled me during my teenage years. She encouraged me to maintain my love for God even during difficult times of trials and testing. She also deposited financially into my future by purchasing my school clothes and supplies. She is the most lovable woman I know. All the youth at the church looked up to her. Her faith through the years has only gotten stronger and her light has only shone brighter. She believe in me, even when I didn't believe in myself. It is people like Paulette that creates the Oprah's, Condoleezza's and Bridgette Hilliard's in the world. We all need someone who encourages us to reach our full potential by reminding us that God is our Father and He gave his Son, Jesus that we may have LIFE and LIFE more abundantly.

I must include the whole supporting cast of Mt. Rose M.B.C. members. One year, Rev. Winn, Bro. David Glenn and Bro. Bobby Joe Glenn gave me a card with money in it with wonderful words of encouragement. Sis. Nikki Winn played a huge impact on my growth and development. Sis. Teresa Johnson always taught us about money and being a good steward. Of course, you must acknowledge the Matron of all matrons, Sis. De'Arcy Glenn. Sis. De'Arcy was the most selfless woman in the universe. She poured her heart, mind and soul into the youth of Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church. Sis. Ozella Glenn and Sis. Debra Eckwo are mighty women of God and impacted my faith. My mission workshop sisters had such a spiritual impact on my life. I will never forget wailing in the pews while listening to Sis. Adam's meditation. Getting spiritually lifted after hearing Sis. Owens, Gardner, Lula Mae Williams and Sis. Kinsey set the house of fire with topics and themes.

Outside the church I must acknowledge people who've helped me tremendously. All of my neighbors: Mrs. Frank, Mrs. Carmouche, Mrs. Wardsworth, Mrs. Pekins, Mrs. Madison and Mrs. Mary (the crossing guard). My fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Blakely took me to her house and showed me much kindness. My six-grade teachers, Mrs. Delores Baker, Mr. Dean and Mr. Munson. They looked out for me a great deal because I was so lost and in transition. I'll never forget them buying me an ironing board, chocolate chip cookie lip gloss and another item that I can't remember for my 13th birthday.

My Aunts, Kathy, Carolyn, Lillian, Brenda, Gloria, Essie Lee, Estelle, Betty and Hazel were the bomb. They were at all at the same time hard and easy going on me but all of them helped to shape me into a woman. Thank you very much.