Madea said, “Be a good girl. Listen to your mama. Don’t cause no trouble.” I love my grandmother, who is now with the Lord Jesus Christ. She went home 13 years ago. She was the one who kept us together. Every family has someone like that, the one who organizes everything, who creates a welcoming space. People just want to be around them. That was my grandmother. She was a strong Christian woman, a good Missionary Baptist woman. She didn’t smoke, she didn’t drink. She went to church whenever it was open. She made sure we put money in the offering plate, even if it was just a quarter. She taught us to reverence the Lord. She dressed us in our Sunday best: dresses, stockings, patent leather shoes. She even taught me how to wear makeup saying, “Girl, you need some rouge on your face.”

She told me to honor my mother. Exodus 20:12 says, “Honor your father and mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” That is one of the Ten Commandments. My mom became a single mom after divorce, and I felt a responsibility to make life easier for her. I felt like I needed to be the good child. I honored my parents the best I could. I thank God my grandmother taught me that.

I share these stories so you might see something similar in your own life and find healing, inspiration, and motivation to keep going despite struggle, abuse, pain, or trauma. Thank God for having people like Madea who make life better. May you have someone in your life who teaches you about Christ and helps you live a holy life worthy of God.

God bless, Shirah Chante, Relationship Artist

P.S. If this story touched you, listen to the full episode of Teens Draw Near to God podcast, All is Vanity: Good Girl for the complete poem, prayer, and message of healing.