Sweet Lil' Mama

Tonight, our family lost a matriarch like I have never known before. Lula Teague, known as Lil' Mama by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and "great-great's", left this earth to join her Lord in heaven tonight. She was my great-grandmother and my children's great-great-grandmother, which is a rare blessing that I feel fortunate to have had for as long as I did. Five generations don't happen very often, and I could not have asked for a better example of a Godly wife and mother than Lil' Mama was.

She would have been 96 years old this month, and lived a full life, dedicated solely to her God and her family. She had five children, one of which was my grandfather, and has countless grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her "great-great's", as she called them, were Kendyll, Carlie, Braden, and two other cousins, Brennan and Liam. She was incredibly proud to have "great-great's" and she glowed every time they were around. Even at her age, she could hold a baby and comfort them like she was still 30 years old and a young mother herself. I have many pictures of her holding each of my girls, and will treasure those always.

Although I could go on and on about the life she lived, I will save that for another day. Tonight, as I told my dad earlier, I pray for her grandchildren and children, as they deal with the loss of their sweet grandmother and mother. I have never witnessed a mother and grandmother have such sweet relationships with her family, or be the kind of example and living testimony to her faith in the Lord than Lil' Mama. She had such a profound impact on each one of our lives and I am so proud to be her offspring. I only hope and pray that I can be an ounce of the Christian woman she was. And, I look forward to being with the family this weekend as we celebrate her precious life.

And, Lil' Mama, I know you are loving on Grandaddy tonight and finally in the presence of God Himself, praising Him as you always did here on earth. I will never sing the old favorite hymns of yours without seeing your sweet face and hearing your unmistakeable singing voice. As Cortni and I talked today, we realized that we had both sung "The Old Rugged Cross" for you today at different times. And, now you're there! "I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it someday for a crown." I know yours is a beautiful crown full of every jewel. We love you, Lil' Mama.