How worn is your carpet?

Our post this week is in honor of my Mamaw Sammie and I want to credit my Uncle Todd with the quote and story for this post.

In a previous post, I mentioned my Mamaw Sammie and how special she was to me. So special in fact, God used her in my dream to tell me our baby was going to be okay. The word that comes to my mind when I think about her is "steadfast." She was steadfast and consistent in her faith and ministry to the Lord. When she passed away, my mom's words were "Who is going to pray for us now?" If that isn't the ultimate testament to a woman's life, I don't know what is.

During her funeral, Uncle Todd stood up to say a few words to honor her (his mother). Those words have stuck with me and will stick with me for the rest of my life and now I am passing them on to you. "How worn is your carpet?" He told the story of when they were packing her and my papaw up to move back to north La. He said when they began to move their bed, he noticed the carpet was very worn on her side by her nightstand. He stood there looking at it, trying figure out what why the carpet was so worn. Then, he realized, that is the spot where she knelt by her bed to pray. She was so steadfast in her prayer life that her carpet was worn down in the shape of her knees. She knelt by her bed daily to pray and if I had to guess, multiple times a day when needed. Her prayer life was so impactful that it not only impacted her family and friends, but made an impression on inanimate objects in her home.

Did you know there is a woman in the Bible who many people call "Jesus' steadfast disciple"? She wasn't one of the official 12, but she stayed true to Jesus even in the thick of His persecution before crucifixion and after he returned to heaven. She was the first person Jesus revealed himself to when he rose again and is mentioned in the Bible 12 times. She is mentioned more times than most of the individual apostles. Do you know who she is? Her name was Mary Magdalene. Mary Magdalene is quite possibly the woman whom I admire most in the Bible. We first see her in the Bible as one of the women who followed Jesus and His disciples, but Jesus actually met her before we initially hear of her. She was demon possessed and no one could help her until Jesus came to her. He cast out SEVEN demons from her body. He saved her life literally and spiritually. From then on she was a steadfast follower of His throughout His life, death, resurrection and ascension. She is actually the first person who preached the gospel of the resurrection because Jesus showed Himself to her first. I know I'm getting a little off topic, but she is just so special! What I want you to see is that Jesus appeared to the woman who was known for her steadfast faith. Hold tight when the world is coming at you. Hold tight when you feel like you are slipping. Hold on when it feels like the ground under your feet is failing because He will be there to catch you. Remain steadfast in your prayers and hold onto your faith in tumultuous times. He is right there with you. Your steadfastness is not in vain. We will see the victory! So, I ask you, how worn is your carpet? Are you standing firm in your faith? Are you wearing down your carpet talking to Jesus? Are you making a permanent impression due to your faith?

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭58‬ ‭NIV‬‬