Happy Birthday Martha (Wright Johnson)

In a recent job interview, the interviewer ended by saying to me, “Well, I have to admit, when I saw your name was Martha, I assumed you would be older.” This wasn’t anything I’ve never heard before so I blurted my default response: “Yes, I was named after my grandmother.” Time after time I am reminded that I must “grow into” my name, for some reason. Because I was named Martha in 1987 when other babies were being named Jessica and Megan and Rachel (my sister’s name). And yet I’m proud of my name because 70-some years ago, my grandmother was born on August 4 (today) and given the name Martha as well. I often wonder if she had to “grow into” her name as well, or if it’s a sign of the times. But either way, I know she has had a life of growing…growing in trusting her Savior, his plan for her life and her family, and the hope that she will spend eternity with him.

The amount I have learned from my grandmother (whom I call Grandmommy) is uncountable. She is a woman of many passions and talents and skills. She has a love for music, beauty and style, food and family, a sharp mind and a creative spirit; perhaps more than that, I learned from her what it means to work hard, to be a servant, and to live a life of faith. My grandmother is the most devoted pray-er I know; she prays for me and her other family and friends daily (maybe even 2 or 3 times a day!) because she believes that it works! And I can attest to the fact that others are blessed by her faithful prayers and she sees the fruition of her prayful trusting in God. I can almost hear her saying herself: “In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles. For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in Him” (Psalm 34: 6-8).

I have watched and observed and talked to my grandmother so many times about the ups and downs of life, the joys and trials, the turns that life takes. Yet I know that she believes that God blesses his children and is faithful to guide them no matter what happens. She also understands how we are all created differently, with a specific purpose in mind for our work, our talents, our passions. As an encourager, she would speak just as Paul did and believe this truth deep down in her heart: “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns” (Philippians 1:6).

I am fairly certain that my grandmother isn’t thrilled by the fact that she shares a birthday with Barack Obama. But this doesn’t have to be the biggest worry of her life. After all, she knows that God is faithful to protect his children. She knows there is nothing to fear because our Savior lives and holds his world and his children in his hands. “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, Your Savior…Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you” (Isaiah 43:1-4).

My grandmother is a testimony to the fact that the oftentimes jolting nature of life doesn't have to overcome you, especially not when you have the hope of eternity. So maybe I have growing yet to do, in trusting and believing as fully as my grandmother does. To grow into the name Martha, not because it’s from a decade other than my own, but because of its other faithful namesake. To remember that my Creator knows me by name, that He is growing me more into the person I was created to be (regardless of my name), that he loves me through this whole process, and that he places people in my life to encourage me. Happy Birthday Grandmommy! As a grandmother, wife, mother, sister, daughter, aunt, friend, and faithful child of God, you are a blessing that God has put in my life to be an example, constantly trusting in his purpose and plan, and letting God guide and develop you into the Martha that he created you to be.

Love, Martha (Grace Byrne)