Strong Love

A couple of years ago, Lizzy and I traveled to North Carolina for the 50^th Annual Lumbee Homecoming and the Locklear family reunion. In one way, it was a difficult trip as it was my first one since the death of my dad. However, it was also a blessing as I was reminded of the Christian legacy of my ancestors and the key to strong love.

Scooppie

But, let me start by introducing you to Scooppie, no relation. On his grave marker it read, “Do unto others as they have done unto you.”

This is a misquote of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, “Do to others as you would have them do to you” and an indictment of the life of this young man, Scooppie, buried at Mt. Olive Baptist Church. I asked my aunt if they use a different version of the Bible at Mt. Olive Baptist Church. She asked why. Then, I showed her the grave marker. She was shocked, not realizing that was actually in the church’s cemetery.

Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount were not a discipline built into this young man’s life. His young life ended, when he took his gun to kill the boyfriend of his sister, but it was an ambush and he was the one who was shot and killed. To be Christ-like is to love those who are difficult to love, “Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High. . .”

We spent a lot of time during this trip visiting cemeteries. I think we visited every cemetery in Robeson County: Christian Cemetery, Dial Cemetery, Willis Cemetery, Union Chapel, and Mount Olive. But, most of the trip was filled with stories of lives well lived, not like that of Scooppie.

Weave a Strong Love

This trip reminded me of this verse, “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12, NIV).

Three stands are good, as long as one is Jesus. Any relationship that you have will be made stronger if Jesus is one of the strands. Liz and I have allowed God to strengthen our marriage. This is true of my Uncle Grover and Aunt JoAnn as well. They are really good together. Their’s is a strong love. My uncle told me he was very shy growing up and my aunt said, “I made him a lot better person.” She then said, “Well, we made each other a lot better.” He said, “That is right.” 

In watching them, it was also obvious how much their faith in Jesus has made them better. They pray at meal times, attend church together, teach Sunday school, and work in the community. The three strands of their chord have made them strong and blessed their lives. God has blessed them with children, grandchildren, land, houses, and influence in the community. We spent one morning at the county court house, where JoAnn introduced us to the Chief Judge of Superior Court, the district attorney, and many other influential people. Luke 6:38 says, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.” This promise has been definitely fulfilled in the lives of Uncle Grover and Aunt JoAnn. 

Legacy Of Faith

Faith in Christ , however, didn’t start with them. My grandmother wove the strand of her relationship with Jesus into the cord of all her relationships. She was a praying woman. My grandfather traumatized her and all of the relationships in his life. I asked my Uncles Grover and Jerry, “How is it that you brothers turned out to be good people? They both said, “We had a praying mother.” I have been blessed to spend some significant time with Grover, Jo Ann, and Jerry since the death of my dad. Reflecting on his mother, Grover said, “Isn’t it something? She didn’t even get to see the answers to many of her prayers.” It wasn’t until after her death that my uncles became leaders in the church and devoted followers of Jesus. 

As a child, I remember my mother and grandmother, Mary Lowery, praying together. The strongest memory I have of my dad’s mother was how kind she was. She was kind to everyone, whether they deserved it or not. In Luke, Jesus uses the word “mercy.” Verse 36 says, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” By showing mercy, we are being like Christ. Mary loved the Lord and her children and grandchildren have been blessed because of her. Psalm 103 says, “From everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him… with their children’s children (Psalm 103:17-18, NIV).

Answered Prayer

At my Uncle Louis’ house, I saw a photo on the wall of my dad and eight of his brothers and sisters standing on the steps of Mount Olive Baptist Church, next to my Grandfather, Dock Locklear. I said, “Uncle Louis, what is this photo?” He said that is the day that your Granddad got baptized. The day was April 24, 1988; he was 87 years old. Praise God! That was 15 years after my grandmother had died. She did not live to see it. But, let me guarantee, she prayed for that day and there he was standing with nine of his children who were blessed to celebrate for her.

I also discovered on this trip that the legacy of faith did not start with my grandmother. My great grandparents on both sides attended Mount Olive Baptist Church. In fact, James E. Dial, Mary’s grandfather was a founding member of the church and of the Croatan Indian Normal School, later to become the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Recently, Grover said he was talking with Hazel, a 92-year old woman at church. She said, “Did you know that your grandmother led me to Christ?” She then recounted the story of how, as a 14-year old girl, my great grandmother, Gatsy Locklear, invited her to come to the alter and pray to receive Jesus as her Lord and Savior.

On this trip, I was reminded that weaving Jesus into your family relationship makes the love strong. Also, weaving Jesus through all of your relationships makes your community strong. It is now our turn. Together, let’s build on the legacy of faith. . . and expand the God’s community.

Copyright © 2020 Chuck Locklear

Also, see Unconditional Love.