In Memory of My Sweet Mrs. Luvena

I want to share with you something I wrote in my phone last summer around the middle of July about an experience I had on that day and a lady who's impacted my life tremendously. (I don't have the exact date I wrote it). I found it to be an appropriate time to finally share this story that I hold so close to my heart since we sang at her church today, and I check in at Miss NC this week. 

So here it goes...

"So today we went to visit a really special lady to me in the hospital. She's battling cancer. She's pretty much on her death bed cause she wasn't expected to live past last summer but after today I'm convinced she's not dying any time soon. I was really hesitant and not looking forward to going to see her. Not because I didn't wanna see her, but because I was truly unsure if I could handle seeing her so sick. She's so special to me because she's one of the main reasons I started competing at Miss NC. 3 years ago she was a complete stranger to me. She was just another lady in one of our services on a Sunday morning in Oklahoma. No big deal. After that service 3 years ago when we sang at her church for the first time she came up to me. The first words she said to me were "I don't know why but God told me to tell you that you look like a Miss America and He said you needed to hear that." Well she had no idea that I was going to compete in a preliminary pageant for Miss North Carolina's Outstanding Teen a few months after that and I was thinking about backing out of the preliminary pageant at that point. The more we talked the more I was encouraged. When I left that church that day I knew in my heart God wanted me apart of this program for a reason. I competed in Miss Fayetteville a few months after that, won, and advanced to NCOT for my first shot at the crown. Ive now won another preliminary pageant, made top 5 (4th runner up) at NCOT, and received a talent award at NCOT the second year I competed at state. So, over the last 3 years she has made a huge impact on me. She tells me I have a spirit of Queen Esther which blows my mind cause I could never compare. I know that even though I may never be Miss America or MAOT, I have been able to leave a mark and do so much good through this. It's changed me for the better and molded me into who I am.  I walked into that hospital today not knowing what to expect but I went in smiling anyways. I never wanted to leave the room once I got in there. I've never met anyone with more faith in my life. She's so determined to not give up and as heartbreaking as it was to see her so sick she was so happy. She prayed for me the sweetest prayer and it was just amazing that this woman who's holding on to every last breathe is praying for MY prosperity. Needless to say I walked out of there and left her with a kiss on the cheek and a broken I love you through my uncontrollable crying. But I've never been so empowered and encouraged in my whole life. I don't know if there's anyone who has impacted me like that. My soul has been overflowing ever since I left that hospital room."

Mrs. Luvena passed away just a few short weeks after I visited with her. She fought such a good fight and I know without a doubt she's enjoying our Lord and Savior's presence today. 

Since last summer I have won another local preliminary to NCOT, and am preparing for my third year competing at North Carolina's Outstanding Teen. This time it's my last chance, being that I age out of the teen program after this summer. 

Anytime I doubt my abilities, anytime I feel overwhelmed, all I have to do is think of her and my strength becomes stronger. Not only am I competing because it's what I love, because I'm so proud to be a North Carolinian, because I'm fighting for the nations Micro Babies, but this time I've giving absolutely everything I've got for Mrs. Luvena. I carry her courage with me. 

Her pastor, Pastor David, loves telling the story of what God told her every time we sing there. Today when we finished singing pastor prayed for me, and said to me he knows Mrs. Luvena is on the sidelines in heaven saying "Go sis, Go sis!". I can hear her already. 

Mrs. Luvena, thank you. I can't wait for the day I see you again. 




Comments

  1. UnknownJune 20, 2014 at 5:20 AM

    What a beautiful and heart wrenching story. Emmna you will go far in life, when a person(a true believer in Christ) tells you what God told them, BELIEVE IT! Awesome story ;0)

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownJune 20, 2014 at 3:57 PM

    Oh my all I can do is cry reading this amazing story that God used Mrs.Luvena to give you words of encouragement and also to encourage the people reading it.. Go Emma. :)

    ReplyDelete

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