Gertrude Williams 

December 6, 1949 - January 10, 2023

Isaiah 59:21

New King James Version

²¹ “As for Me,” says the Lord, “this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants’ descendants,” says the Lord, “from this time and forevermore.”

A Legacy of Prayer

“You can do whatever you want, but don’t touch my books”!   That was my Mother-in-law, Gertie’s only request as I organized her apartment.  Thirty spiral-bound notebooks,  weathered, ordinary on the outside, and looked like clutter, but sacred within.  I didn’t understand their worth at first.  But in time, I would.

When strokes robbed her of many things, we moved her in with us, her memory clung tightly to just one request.  “Make sure you get my books.”  And we did.  Those books were her sanctuary.  Holy ground.   Prayers she whispered in secret.  Sermons she held dear.  Hopes and dreams for her family, written by her hand.

And on the final days of her life, when her words grew still, she left us one more.  Psalm 51.  Her final offering.

As I read through her words, I realized something powerful: even though her voice had gone silent here on earth, her life was Still Speaking to us. Her handwriting became a legacy, a tangible reminder that the love, prayers, and encouragement we pour out today can still minister to the hearts of our children, grandchildren, and generations yet to come of those we love.

These journals were inspired by Gertie (Gertrude Williams).  As I realized that her words should be encased in something worth holding treasure, because that is exactly what her words and yours are.  They should be cherished and protected heirlooms.  They are worth more than gold. These journals are more than paper and fabric; they’re keepsakes, intentionally and individually handcrafted to hold your prayers, your testimonies, and the stories that tell your family who you are and what you believe.  Each one is made with heirloom-quality fabrics, careful detail, and the hope that it will one day be held like a treasure, just as I hold Gertie’s.

Thank you so very much for the privilege and the honor, of valuing your life through the working of my hands.  Remember, Write boldly; Write freely; Write beautifully; Because your life is Still Speaking.™