Meet Pat Cheshire, known to her many grandchildren and great grandchildren as Mee-Maw.
Her life has not been easy, but through it all this is the smile I always saw, she never looked sad, I have never seen her cry. Her faith is bigger than anyone's I have ever known and I think she has a direct line to heaven. Her prayers are powerful, God listens because she is His faithful servant.
She had 12 children, and through the years she has buried four of them. My dad was her oldest child. She lost her husband when she was 47 years old, the age I am right now. When she lost her husband, she still had small children living at home. There was not time to worry, she moved to Memphis where my dad was living and opened a day care in her home to support her family. She kept kids in her home for over 20 years. I always remember it was a happy home with babies and toddlers and Mee-Maw in control, loving them all.
After she "retired" from her daycare she moved into a home right next to her church so she could walk to church each day. She told me she prayed for God to make a home affordable to her that was one level next to church and she would worship Him each day. Unless she is not feeling well or the weather is bad, she is there every morning. She said, "I made a promise, it's that simple."
In the past year, I started visiting her each week for lunch and those have been my favorite days each week. We sit, we talk, we eat, we just spend time together. In those moments I've been reminded of her Big faith, her Big heart and how Big of a servant she is to the Lord. You see, she never judges, never criticizes, never gives advice unless you ask (and if you ask, it will be the best advice you will ever get because she notices everything and is wise beyond all understanding). I have learned by her example. Recently she told me, "I'm happy, why wouldn't I be happy? I choose to be happy, I could be sad, yes, there are reasons to be sad. But, I choose happy every day. Can't you just see the "happy" in her expression?
She has lead by example her entire life and her example is what I lean on daily. If Mee-Maw could pick up the pieces of a broken life, start over in a new city, open a business, support a family, live independently, all the while praising and serving God, I too can handle the daily challenges life sends my way. She was a steady force in my childhood. I loved going to her house, and sitting in her lap. It was always a happy place and every Thursday I can not wait to get back to that happy place, to sit with her and talk. She is full of wisdom and is simply a beautiful soul.
Thank you Mee-Maw for being you, for showing me Jesus in all you do and for your inspiring strength and endurance.
Grace and Peace,
Misty
