An Odd Encounter!

As I pulled up outside my front gate in my car ready to unload my bags of soil from my numerous Homebase shopping sprees (renovating the garden from top to bottom)  I noticed an elderly black lady smiling at me .   An old Caribbean lady, a grandmother, a type of women that reminds you of your grandmother! 

As I noticed her I thought ‘hmm’,  the night before I saw another elderly grandmother type who smiled at me in Tesco, and the day before that  I noticed one on the street. Each smile from these various ladies bidding for my fleeting attention!  I thought to myself here we go... 'Someone' really wants to get my attention!

 As I glanced at her to give her my undivided, but brief attention, she started to talk to me.  “What area are we in here” she asked me.  I replied “Wanstead”, “oh I thought so",  she replied.  Our conversation continued as she enquired about why did they let the local Baptist church building  go into ruins! I started to take note of this lovely women as the more I spoke to her, her mannerisms and looks resembled by now deceased Grand- mother. It was like the Baptist church was an analogy for the state of my faith!

I asked her where she is from, “Jamaica”, she replied.  I responded with “hmm your accent isn’t too strong” , she replied “I come and go”.  She continued to tell me that I must do the same when I reach age, 'come and go'.    As she continued she challenged me to "Put my life in order" .  So as this lovely conversation continued she moved on to counsel me.  She spoke as the wisest Grandmother sharing with me her wisdom.  She counselled me on life, love, religion, relationships, money, attitude and progress.  She hugged me repeatedly (I hugged a complete stranger, but she felt like my Grandmother by this time)  and she asked me to put the following things in order:

·        Marriage, love the man with my head and not my heart! If the man plays up put him out and make do (was not on my agenda at all)
·        Children- one or two.  I must have!!  (was not on my agenda at all)
·        House back home in the Caribbean so I can come and go home.
·        Church in my heart- not in a particular faith, but 'worship' in my heart.
·        To do the best I can do in everything and keep one eye open. Be smart!

She told me to thank God for my stupid years.  The years of 20-35years old she said these are essential times.  We need these years to live on, but no excuses now for stupid behaviour.  It is time to have order!

 She laughed with me and asked me my name... I replied “XX Mapp”. She laughed at my response and said “Map it out”.

So I called my parents to tell them of this encounter  and as they listened they reminded me of my purpose, my background and my upbringing!

#Teach a child the….
# Hardened not your heart....
#Speak Lord for your....