I am working on editing this. I'm a full time grandma raising full time active grandchildren. I'm not sure why some of my blog posts post when I have them in the draft stage, but check back for the edited version. I will complete this post when I get a free moment. God bless all the praying women.
When I first posted this I was recalling how Pastor Hill's testimonies about his "Mama" have helped me, but something didn't feel right about that. It is not about me, it is about "Mama", a woman many have never heard about. It's about a grandma raising a grandson who became well known by many. I am reposting it with a focus on "Mama", a praying woman.
Some of the other posts may not include a lot about what mothers have done and endured, but "Mama" has been an inspiration to me since the first time I heard Pastor Hill mention her on TBN.
I couldn't find a link that mentioned all the testimonies I heard Pastor E.V. Hill share. Therefore, for this post about a praying woman, I'm going to share what I recall and add my own input as a tribute to "Mama".
This is what I recall; E.V. Hill was born in poverty during the 30s. If I recall right his dad left or died-he wasn't in the home and Pastor Hills mother struggled as a working single mother. She had several children and needed help. Pastor Hill's grandma "Mama" let him live with her. She raised Pastor Hill by faith and taught him by example. (Keep in mind his mother loved him enough to send him to live with "Mama", a very unselfish gift for her son.)
Think about that for a moment. She was an African American woman (most reports say negro-that is what she was called in the 30s. Remember she wasn't living in 2013-she was living in the 1930s) , she was poor in the 30s. History confirms this was NOT a great time to be an African American woman. She could have been the smartest and most talented woman at the time and it wouldn't have mattered because at the time women weren't "empowered". An African American woman would have been less "empowered" than other women.
There were memorable women from that decade so don't get me wrong, I don't believe that they weren't capable, I'm saying they wouldn't be handed success. There wouldn't be any "it's my right" type of debate that would succeed because at the time people were still struggling with "rights", both racially and gender based. Any influential woman of the time, especially one with race being a "circumstance" to deal with, would have to be very strong in character to achieve recognition in society. History is proof of this because every woman, regardless of race, who is remembered struggled to overcome. We learn about many in school and can search for others online or in books. One type of successful woman in that time period who never made history books is the praying woman. It's the woman who raised up leaders and pastors. Pastor Hill's "Mama" ............ is one of those women.
"Mama" apparently knew the secret to true "empowerment". She didn't rely on circumstances or society's "politically correct" input. She had a relationship with the Lord. She lived by faith. She taught by example. Her legacy wouldn't be for a moment in time, but one that grew for decades. It is a legacy that would flow into generations among her family and influence many people in the nation.
"Can't" didn't appear to be part of her vocabulary. When they had no food she knew the Lord would provide. When others told her it was foolish to think E.V. would graduate from high school she knew he would. When they had no money for college, she packed up her grandson and sent him on his way. She told him to stay in that line. She prayed. She believed God when He said there was nothing impossible for Him. She believed nothing was impossible for her because she believed. She believed scripture that promised the Lord would save and bless the children of believers.
I have often wondered if she had her own ambitions and dreams. I never heard testimony concerning her own desires for herself. All of the testimonies I've heard are about what she done for E.V. However, one thing is clear, her love for the Lord and her love for her grandson, Edward Victor "E.V." Hill. She was committed to both. Because of her persistent non-wavering faith in the Lord and her dedication to raising up a child of the Lord, she was a very successful woman. Google Pastor E.V. Hill. You will find reports on how he was involved with some of the most powerful people in his lifetime. He was an influential Pastor respected and loved by many. But he came from what many would consider a dysfunctional family. He didn't just overcome on his own. It was his "Mama" and the Lord working together that formed his foundation and future.
I've often said my Mom knew how to make dysfunctional function. And I believe that about Pastor Hill's "Mama" she knew the secret to empowerment and how to make dysfunctional function.
It's a sweet story right? But think about it. She herself was poor. She was African American. It was less than 100 years since slavery had been abolished (Here we are 160 plus years later and there are still racial issues-imagine during her time! Raising her grandson to succeed had to seem very foolish to many people-perhaps they thought she had her heads in the clouds and was dreaming). Poverty is never pleasant or easy in any generation, but this was a time during the Great Depression. She lived through at least one of the World Wars, possibly both. In the 30s and 40s many people dropped out of school to work. There wasn't age requirements before a child dropped out. E.V. Hill graduated from high school and went to college-that was no minor accomplishment for a poor grandma. That was an achievement brought about because of a God fearing, believing and praying grandma.
To my knowledge she didn't have a formal education. She didn't have a career. She was raising a grandson during a time when many males were joining together to fight racial issues. Many people in that time period committed crimes due to poverty. She had to keep her grandson on track. She had to be loving and firm regardless of the circumstances. She had to live by example. That is no minor accomplishment. When other grandmas were sitting around at luncheons bragging about their grandchildren, the ones who were home with their parents, a grandma raising a grandchild would be home taking care of the grandchild. I know from experience that a grandma raising a grandchild doesn't always fit into a group nicely. The moms are much younger and the grandmas have empty nests. Apparently, "Mama" tailored the special role of a grandma raising a grandchild to her own character and life.
But it wasn't just the "times' that "Mama" survived and overcame. It was a future, she seen a future beyond any circumstances. She believed for it. She didn't focus on just the moment, but prepared for a future. She truly overcame a future beyond her own lifetime as she prepared and raised up a grandson who would live in that future.
"Mama's" story isn't racially biased. It's about a loving mother, a loving grandmother, and most importantly-a woman of the Lord. That is the type of woman who transcends all racial and age classifications. That is something that doesn't make the history books. She is a role model for any woman, especially the grandmas. Anyone can achieve a moment of success, but it takes an empowered woman of the Lord to achieve success for generations after generations.
Therefore, the story isn't a sweet account of how a pastor had a loving grandma. Pastor E.V. Hill had an amazing grandma.
If you're not a patient person, "Mama" is the type of woman you don't want to end up behind during the day of judgment when the book of deeds is opened-you will be there awhile, because you can be sure the Lord remembers every deed none ever seen or heard.
We often see the results of a Mama's influence when a person becomes well known. It is the men and women they send out into the world we recall and give tribute to. I'm not saying those folks don't deserve some honor and respect, but the praying women behind them should never be forgotten. Praise the Lord for praying women! They are not always seen, heard, or remembered, but they are powerful.
The following links are a few links about Pastor E.V. Hill. (Dr. E.V. Hill)
Pastor Reflects on His "Mama's" Love and Prayers
Tribute to Dr. E.V. Hill Sr
The Great Legacy of Dr. E.V. Hill
E.V. Hill remembered as conservative African American pastor, Civil Rights leader
