The inspiration behind Grammie in Desire of my Heart

When I created Serafina Brooks or Grammie, my mother’s heart immediately came to mind. I needed a character, a woman of God, who would share Christ more by example than words. Memories surfaced of my mother kneeling beside the living room sofa when I walked in the door from school, sitting at the kitchen table with her Bible when I awoke, or resting her eyes in her rocking chair with a cup of tea in hand as she prayed. My mother loved communing with God.

Communing with God differs from meditating on scripture, praying, or worshiping. My mother knew how to focus her full attention on God. She had an intimate relationship with her Heavenly Father and communicated with him constantly. It was more than sharing her heart and mind with God in prayer; she took the time to sit quietly in anticipation of hearing God’s reply.

My mother sought God first in all decisions. She scoured scripture for answers and direction. Her daily habit of being in the presence of God and His Word was evident by the dates, notes, and underlines in her well-worn Bible.

She had consistent faith. She lived in expectation that God would come through and fervently prayed, waiting for God’s answer. She did her fair share of reminding God of His promises, and when He didn’t answer as she hoped, she praised Him for what she didn’t see or understand.

Interceding was something she took seriously. Rarely did I or my four siblings know of her struggles, but we knew she prayed for ours. The realization that this lifeline to God was gone when she passed was significant to us all.

Mom recognized God in the minor details of life, and there were no coincidences, only God-incidences. I remember her once saying, “Well, isn’t that just like God—showing up when we least expect it?”

Obedience was not always easy for her, but she learned to obey with a joyful heart. Rather than dwell on the inconveniences of life, my mother embraced the challenge. She figured if God felt she was capable, then she would step up and do her part to ensure He succeeded in however He planned to use her. No matter the cost, she would live up to His expectations.

She was dependable, always showing up and giving her best. She persevered when she was tired, thanked God for her myriad blessings, and saw the good in others. As a teen, I was often embarrassed when she would greet a stranger with, “Your haircut is so flattering on your face,” or “That color looks lovely on you.” Now, I see the beauty in her genuineness and her desire to encourage others. It was one more way she shared God’s love.

My mother was an authentic Christian who lived out her faith with few words. She was a prayer warrior who understood the value of sharing her heart with God then waiting on His response.

When you read Desire of my Heart, I hope you see a glimpse of my mother through the character of Grammie. Her spirited personality, immediate acceptance of Thomas, and love of God and family make her a solid supporting character in this story of loss, love, and reliance on God. Desire of my Heart is the first book in the Discerning God’s Best series. You can sample the book here.