Joy Like Joyce

Joy Like Joyce

For those of you who do not know me, I’m Destiny Massengill Nanny’s oldest granddaughter. Nanny always took me to church as a little girl and prayed with me at night before bed and when we woke up. I can’t ever remember a time I was not with her or papaw on the most weekends growing up. Nanny lived the life of. Nehemiah 8:10 “the joy of the lord is my strength”. I can’t help to think that Nanny came into this world joyful and left this world joyful. You see happiness is a state of emotion that human beings possess, where as true joy comes from Jesus. On this past Friday September 29, I was told nanny was rapidly declining but I had no idea that Saturday night would be the very last time I held her sweet hand against mine and kissed her goodbye. As I sat there with her Saturday, I could only think that being positive wasn’t really an option this time, that nanny would soon gain her Honorary Guardian Wings even if I wasn’t ready. I sat there and talked to her and waited for a response but never received a verbal one. The last 10 minutes that anyone would ever spend with her little did I know, I began to pray over her. And I’m so thankful I could experience this story with her, Jesus knew I needed it. When I got to Kirkwood Nanny was in great pain moaning, jerking/ muscle spasms, and just tired. Nanny had fought a long battle with Alzheimer’s, that took her mother and sister. Nanny was a woman of strong faith and prayer so I thought praying over her was the best idea that God had put on my heart. Isaiah 43:2 says “When I walk through deep waters, you will be with me.” I read this verse every time nanny started declining and I read for the final time around 9:45 Saturday night to her. But I told her two things. 1.) Nanny you’re so beautiful, and you’re so strong. I know you’re tired and you don’t want to fight anymore. And we all love you, and I know you love us. We will miss you very much but if you want to be with Jesus please choose to do so, we will not be disappointed in you. After all, you’re my hero, and my best friend for 19 years. And I know you’ll always be with me. 2.) Nanny I love you and if you can hear please give me a sign that you love me too, and she Squeezed my hand twice, and I knew exactly what it meant. During the time I prayed over her, her body stopped spasing, she stopped moaning in pain, and her breaths began very short and peaceful. Her hand relaxed in mine. And I knew then that Jesus Christ was there with us. It was the purest, and sweetest last moment I would spend with her. As I left, she was just at peace. And I can only hope when she passed to be with Jesus she was peaceful. My God mother, is sitting out there with you guys today Paige Aaron, she once told me that “you’ll miss her but our only hope is that we will see her again.” So, as we weep here, let us remember not to choose sorrow over joy. Because after all nanny never missed a day or a time to laugh, and most of the time she was in pain and suffering. But nanny is with Jesus now and is having the time of her heavenly life. In closing, Nanny gave me a bracelet about 2 years ago that said “know in your heart that your loved”. And that should tell just how pure her heart was. With all this being said, have joy like Joyce.