Welcome to 2010!
I have not blogged this year until now. Just been taking some time off to be honest. Today is January 13, 2010. It is a very special day for me, because this is the day my precious Mamaw was born. For those of you not from the south or from another country who might read this…a Mamaw is a Grandmother.

I just celebrated my 50th birthday on January 9th but today is not about me turning 50, it is about me being alive. I would not be here if my Mamaw had not prayed me back to life. As a little boy I suffocated to death in a plastic bag. As Paul Harvey used to say, “and now, The Rest of the Story…”

My mother had gone to choir practice and my Mamaw was taking care of my brother and I, when my brother walked into the kitchen and said, “Mamaw, Mamaw, Keith is all blue!” My Mamaw raced to the bedroom where my mother had left me in a playpin, and found me encapsulated inside a laundry clothes bag. I was blue, there was blood coming from my nose, mouth and ears and I was not breathing.

My Mamaw called the emergency number and an ambulance was dispatched. She immediately began to pray over me and walked outside to wait on the corner for the ambulance. The ambulance had a flat tire and after about 15 minutes some fireman showed up. They tried oxygen and every medical procedure they knew, and nothing happened. E. R. Coffman asked for permission to try a new method of resuscitation called “mouth to mouth” and began to try to resuscitate me…nothing happened. During this whole time, my Mamaw was praying, but when they pronounced me dead, she prayed: “God you have given him life and you can resurrect him…resurrect him!” When she prayed that prayer, a breath of air shot out of my mouth, my eyes popped open, the fireman were shocked, my Mamaw REJOICED!

E.R. Coffman would later receive a Presidential Commendation from John F. Kennedy for the role he played in the miracle. But the real hero that day was my Mamaw. We had such a special relationship growing up. My Mamaw taught me to love people the way they needed to be loved, by loving me the way she did. I wasn’t Keith…I was “baby…honey…darling…sweetheart, etc…” She must have known my love language was physical touch, because she had this affectionate way of touching my nose that made me feel special. She cooked special meals just for me when I would go see her in later life…Meatloaf, scallop potatoes, fried okra, pinto beans and corn bread…man, I want some right now!!!

Some of my fondest memories growing up were shared with my Mamaw because she lived with us. She cooked breakfast for us and was home everyday when we arrived from school to greet us. Because my mother and father both worked, she would cook supper every night. We all participated, setting the table, and then helping to clean the dishes afterward. But my best memories were on Sundays. My Mamaw taught Sunday School for 50 years and was my teacher both by her knowledge and more importantly by her life example. Just about every Sunday, I would go forward and spend time at the altar. My Mamaw and mother would often join me on one side or the other. These were very special times of intimately connecting with God. I am forever grateful.

On January 9, 2000 we launched our church Celebration Covenant Church…now Elevate Life Church. She was not able to attend because she was ill. After our launch service on Sunday night, I drove to Emory, Texas where she was living with my parents. I took with me a video of our first service. She was asleep when I arrived, but the next day, we spent the day together and we watched our first service together. We sat in her room, holding hands…I will never forget it. She was smiling the whole time, shaking her head, and saying “Amen.” Then, she would look at me and say “I am so proud honey how you have let God use you.” That was January 10, 2000. We spent some of the next day together talking about God, life and what the Lord was doing.”

On January 12, my precious Mamaw, went to be with the Lord. One day before her 88th birthday. I believe with all of my heart that God granted her the only birthday wish she had…to be with Him. Happy Birthday Mamaw. I am who I am because of the influence you were in my life.

Tomorrow, I will blog about what I call Mamaw’s Tenets for Life.

Remembering my Hero,
Keith