If Memory Serves

by Vanessa Davis Griggs

  Landris looked down at his Bible. “First Thessalonians four-thirteen says, ‘But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.’ Now, if I didn’t read anything more, that Word right there should minister to someone. Our loved ones, who were in the Lord and have gone on, are not dead; they’re merely asleep. ‘For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.’ Is anybody really seeing what’s here? This scripture specifically addresses those who are saved, with salvation being the confession of sins and the belief that Jesus died and rose again. They are the ones who sleep in Jesus—those who are saved. This scripture assures us that God will bring those who are asleep in Jesus with Him. Oh, somebody ought to give God some praise right about now,” Landris said.

  “Glory! Hallelujah!” people began to cry out along with other words of praise.

  “That’s right,” Landris said. “This is something to be excited about. Verse fifteen goes on to say, ‘For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.’ Verse sixteen, ‘For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout—’”

  “Glory! Hallelujah! Thank You, Jesus,” the people said, interrupting him with shouts of praise.

  Landris continued. “‘For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together . . .’” He emphasized the words “caught up” and paused as he raised his fist in the air, fighting hard not to cry. “If we’re not asleep, so to speak, and we’re here when Jesus comes back, we’re going to be caught up together with them”—he looked back down at the scripture, blinking back the tears that tried to blur his vision, and continued reading—“ ‘in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.’” Landris couldn’t hold back. He began jumping up and down. He praised God like he had never praised Him before. He couldn’t stop the tears that now freely flowed down his face. “God is good!” he shouted. “God is good! I don’t care what’s going on in your life, God is still good, and He is worthy to be praised! She was saved, and now she’s with the Lord! I’m saved! Jesus saved me! Oh, it’s good to be saved! This is not the end here! When we come to this place in life, this is not the end! God is so good! This is not the end of the story!”

  The entire congregation was now on its feet, shouting and praising God. They shouted for at least ten minutes.

  “If you’re here today and you’re not saved, or you’ve backslidden and you want to be restored . . . if you want to get back right with God, then will you come today and give your heart . . . give your life to Jesus? The Bible tells us that Jesus left the riches of Heaven and came down to earth. He walked on this earth, showing us how to live, move, and have our being. He was nailed to a cross, not for anything He’d done. He was crucified for our sins. Our sins. Jesus paid the price for you to have salvation. Freely He has given, freely you can receive. Don’t allow the payment Jesus paid for your sins to be in vain. But to receive it, you must come to Him.”

  Landris stepped up to the edge of the stage. “Whosoever will, won’t you come? My intent is not to cause an emotional decision about something this important during a time like this. But I have to put the information out there and give an invitation to come to Jesus because it is that important. I want you to meet me in Heaven.

  “So every time I get the opportunity, I want to share the message of Jesus so someone who may not know Jesus will be able to hear about Him and accept Him. I’d really love to see everyone here at the gathering that will be in Heaven. And what a day that’s going to be. I care about your salvation. God cares, and He doesn’t want anyone to perish. There’s no reason to. Jesus went to prepare a place for us. And they tell me that the wicked shall cease from troubling there. They say the weary will be at rest. Me, I just want to see Jesus. I want to see Him, face to face. And I won’t waste time telling Him what folks did to me down here. He knows, He knows. I just want to walk and talk with Him in Heaven. I want to be in His presence. Do you want to ensure that your name is written in the Book of Life? Then come.” Landris spread out his arms as he’d done so many times before.

  And people did come. The ushers had them line up in the aisles. After those who were interested were in lines, they were led off to a prayer room to receive salvation or pray for restoration as needed.

  The choir began to sing “When We All Get to Heaven.”

  Landris stepped down and walked over to the casket. “I love you,” he whispered, as he kissed two fingers and touched the casket. “See you in Heaven,” he said.

  The pallbearers came forward to carry the casket out. Landris went to the front row where his family was and hugged his brother, Thomas.

  “That was beautiful, George.” Thomas gave Landris a long, brotherly embrace. “I don’t know how you were able to do that. I know I couldn’t have done it. But you did a wonderful job. I know she’s looking down, and she is so proud of you. I just know that she is.”

  Landris nodded. He was so full now, he couldn’t say anything. He left Thomas and walked over to get the baby. “Come on, Isaiah,” he said. “Daddy’s got you. Just like God has us safely in His arms, Daddy has you safely in his.”

  “You did good,” Johnnie Mae said as she touched his arm once he had the baby securely on his shoulder. “I know God is pleased. You did what He’s called you to do, in season and out of season. Many lives have been changed today. I am so proud of you right now. I know your mother is proud.”

  Johnnie Mae thought back on all that had happened over the past few months. She’d had a son prematurely. They both had almost died. But against all the odds, God had brought them through. What a testimony they had to share with the world. Still, she thought of those who had died: Reverend Knight, Sarah Fleming, and now Landris and Thomas’s mother, Virginia LeBoeuf. Three people she’d known personally, all within months of each other. She’d often heard her mother say that death seemed to always come in threes. She’d never really taken that statement much to heart. Nonetheless, there was no denying that three people she knew had transitioned. And because they were saved, she could rejoice knowing that they were now . . . present with the Lord.

  Landris couldn’t help but think about how his mother had come to Birmingham some three months ago expressly to support her family. He thought about how she’d been there when he and Johnnie Mae had needed her the most. How she’d taken care of Princess Rose and was right there when a healthy Isaiah Barron Edward Landris was finally released to come home. What a day of rejoicing that day was!

  His mother had stayed a month longer, simply because she couldn’t pull herself away from her grandchild when he came home. In fact, she was looking for a house to purchase. She was planning to move to Birmingham. She’d assured Landris she would be spoiling Isaiah; she’d already begun making good on her promise.

  Then she went back to her own house, opting to have her bypass surgery there if it was still even needed. Landris and Thomas both insisted she could have the surgery in Birmingham, where all of her family already was. Everybody knew that UAB Hospital was world-renown for just that type of surgery. But she opted to go home anyway. She wanted to use the doctor she’d started out with when her heart problem first emerged. All of her records were there. It would just be easier, with less complications, to go home, and if the surgery was still needed, to have it there. Her doctor said she should have the surgery.

  So Landris and Johnnie Mae packed up the family, including Thomas, and they went to be there for her the way she’d been there for them. She kept insisting she’d be fine. She had lots of friends and some family around who would gladly come by, check on her, and take care of her if she needed them to. She didn’t want them leaving their
home to come be with her, not now, not after all they’d been through. “Isaiah just got home. You guys have been through a lot. Spend this time with each other. I’ll be back to Birmingham before you know it,” Virginia had said.

  But Landris wasn’t hearing it, and neither was Johnnie Mae. Virginia had been there for them; now it was their turn to be there for her.

  Virginia’s doctor advised her she should have the surgery even though there were some noticeable improvements in her heart condition. So she consented to the surgery. She went into the operating room and suffered a heart attack during surgery. The doctors tried desperately, thirty minutes or so, to revive her. It was to no avail.

  She died on the table.

  Johnnie Mae put her arm around Landris as they walked behind the casket and behind Minister Maxwell, who led the recessional out of the church.

  When they were about to get into the car to go to the cemetery, Landris leaned over and whispered, “I love you, Johnnie Mae. I really do.”

  She looked at him, took her thumb, wiped away the tears that rolled down his face, and, with a smile, she said, “I know.” She wiped his tears once more, then wiped her own, and said, “I know.”

  A READING GROUP GUIDE

  IF MEMORY SERVES

  Vanessa Davis Griggs

  The following questions are intended to enhance your group’s discussion of this book.

  Discussion Questions

  1. Which character(s) did you identify and/or empathize with the most? Why?

  2. Memory is back. What were your thoughts about her in the beginning? How did you feel by the end?

  3. Discuss how Sarah Fleming handled Memory’s return. Do you agree with all that happened?

  4. Discuss Lena Patterson and her daughter Theresa along with Sarah and Memory.

  5. Discuss the situation Johnnie Mae and Pastor Landris were dealing with. How did you feel as they dealt with the baby complication? Do you agree with how it was handled?

  6. Talk about various scenes that occurred when Johnnie Mae was in the hospital: the scenes dealing with Charity, Sapphire, Mrs. Gates, and Pastor Landris.

  7. Discuss the scene with Johnnie Mae’s family in the waiting room, then Rachel and Pastor Landris outside Johnnie Mae’s hospital room. What did you feel about all of this?

  8. Discuss the baby (all aspects). How and what did you feel as this unfolded?

  9. Discuss the “Christmas” celebration and all of the events that came afterward.

  10. What were your thoughts about all the revelations that were ultimately revealed surrounding Sarah Fleming?

  11. Discuss Pastor Landris and Reverend Walker and what was going on between them.

  12. How did you feel about the ending? What emotions did you experience? Were there any surprises?

  13. What was your favorite part?

  14. Was there anything that happened in this book that affected you deeply? What and why?

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  Copyright © 2008 by Vanessa Davis Griggs

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  ISBN: 978-0-7582-7205-8