Eighty-three years ago today, Uldean Hagin Douglas entered this world fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God (Gen 1:27). She was knit together in her mother’s womb and every day of her life was recorded in God’s book (Psalm 139:13-16). Nana was born to this world with a sovereign purpose. A purpose of peace and not disaster, purpose of a future filled with HOPE (Jeremiah 29:11).
We are all born with a purpose and I believe that God’s purpose for Nana has been to be an example and influence to all the women who have followed her. She is a Titus 2 woman to her daughters, granddaughters and great-granddaughters. Titus 2:4, 5 says, “to train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, and to be kind. “
She has blessed many of us with the love of cooking and has personally taught me how to comfort my children with a big pot of grits and how to woo my husband with a cup of crab stew and homemade croutons. She has taught us the gift of being frugal. We now know that there are many uses for plastic grocery bags, that mayonnaise jars and cool whip containers are great for storing leftovers, solo cups can be washed and reused, a half of a Bounty paper towel is just as absorbent as a whole one, duct tape and WD40 can fix anything and if we are ever broke and hungry, give us some string, a chicken leg and a net and we could feast on crab for days. Nana has also instilled in us the love for Thanksgiving and Christmas spent with family, the love of the beach, coke with crushed ice, garden fresh tomatoes, boiled peanuts and that a good laugh is truly the best medicine. She has reminded us over and over again through her birthday phone calls, bags of dollar store goodies and home-cooked meals, that it is the simple gestures that mean so much.
And because of my Nana, I am proud to say that I know all about Pickled Pig’s Feet, Fried Chicken Gizzards, Pork Rinds and what the vein in shrimp really is.
But most importantly, Nana has taught us all to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience…and over all these virtues to put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Colossians 3:12-14)
Today, I thank God for Nana, her 83 years of life, her purpose in my life, and for the many more years to come.
