Mom of Sons "Faith Conversations"
The Mom of Sons Podcast is a space for real conversation, steady encouragement, and honest faith for moms raising boys. Each episode speaks to the heart of motherhood. The tender parts, the loud parts, the funny moments, and the moments that keep you praying.
Mom of Sons "Faith Conversations"
Episode 8 Honoring a Son's Life Guest: Wende Wilson
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In this week’s episode of the Mom of Sons Podcast: Faith Conversations, we enter into a tender and meaningful conversation.
Wende Wilson joins me as she shares her testimony of how God has sustained and kept her through the passing of her son five years ago.
This episode is one of reflection, faith, and quiet strength. It speaks to the reality of grief while pointing to the unwavering presence of God in life’s most difficult seasons.
Whether you have experienced loss yourself or are walking alongside someone who has, this conversation is offered with care, compassion, and hope.
Listen with an open heart.
Hello. And welcome back to the Mama Sons podcast, faith conversations. And if this is your first time tuning in, welcome. Mama's Sons is a place where we encourage and support mothers to raise sons who love God and grow into men of faith and integrity. Kingdom men. I'm your host, Beverly Taylor Wells, creator of Mama Sons. Today's episode is a part of our conversation about the seasons of motherhood. Today we're reflecting on what I call the harvest season of motherhood. The harvest season is when a mother looks back on the journey of raising her son. The memories, the lessons, the prayers, and the love that takes his life. Sometimes that season includes moments of deep reflection. And sometimes it includes seasons of grief. Today I'm joined by a very, very special guest and dear sister in Christ, Wendy Wilson. Wendy is a powerful woman of faith who worships and praises the Lord continually. She is the mother of a son named Tedarion, who went home to be with the Lord five years ago after complications from diabetes. Tedarion was a young man in his 30s at the time. And on February 4th, would have been 42 years old. Today, Wendy joins us to share about motherhood, faith, and how God sustains a mother's heart through every season. Wendy, thank you for joining us today.
SPEAKER_01Good afternoon, Beverly. Good afternoon, sis. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. I just want to say, I just want to give glory to God for this opportunity, for this opportunity to um share with uh mothers. And I just want to thank God for you, Beverly, for this opportunity.
SPEAKER_03Thank you. Thank you. This is like you said, all glory to the great I am. Um yes, he's wonderful, he is awesome, and he definitely loves us. Yes. So um Wendy, I'd like to, you know, just jump right in and um tell us about Tadarian's life. What was he like growing up?
SPEAKER_01Well, first, first and foremost, um I just I wanna I wanna thank God right now for for my son because um growing um I was a teen mom, Beverly. And um at that time, you know, back in the 80s, you know, that was that was that was a stigma.
SPEAKER_00Oh yeah.
SPEAKER_01And so um I was a senior in high school uh when I got pregnant with Tedarian, and um just having all that that stigma and that sh it was more like shame and and guilt in the beginning, you know, but once I um once I had him and I realized that this was a gift to me from God, and I don't think I really like it understood the the the magnitude of that, but like I said, I was a senior in high school, I had him in February, and um I was scheduled to start Toledo School of Nursing, and so dealing with all that, you know, that I possibly wasn't gonna be able to, you know, go to college and all that other stuff, but that never deterred me from making the decision to have him, you know, and the disappointment, you know, with my mom and things like that. But I had him in February, graduated in June, was in college in September, all in the same year. Go, girl! Amen. So, so that in itself was was a blessing, you know, and in hindsight, I I didn't realize at the time, you know, because at the time I all I just knew was that I was gonna have this baby and um we were gonna we were gonna make it.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_01And so from the moment he was born, um, I felt in my spirit that he was a gift to me. That's it. And um, yeah, and there were moments that like he even when he was like a tiny little baby, like he would focus in on me, Beverly, and it was just like he was staring in my into my soul.
SPEAKER_03Oh my god.
SPEAKER_01So Wendy. Yeah, so it just it just yes, and it I mean there's like this little face just staring at me, and it gave me the courage and the strength to keep pushing forward. You know, so um like I said, when he, you know, when he was born and stuff, I I I just dealt with a lot of shame, a lot of guilt and things like that. But he he kind of just just moved that on out of the way. The Lord kind of moved that on out of the way and enabled me to focus on this this tiny baby and what it was that we were gonna do. You know, and and like at the time I didn't realize it was God, Beverly. But in hindsight, looking back, I knew that that's what that that he had given me this gift because Tedarian was the the most quiet, calmest baby. You know, and so it caused me to it caused me to calm myself down. You know what I mean, and and and and level myself off, and so it in in in that sense it it just changed the trajectory of my life completely. And raising him taught me uh patience and just my faith. It just increased my faith. And I see uh having Tedarian caused me to turn to God, you know, when I when I didn't have you know the support that I needed or what have you, but God placed people, He gave me a very supportive family, He brought people that I didn't even know that would come in and support us.
SPEAKER_02Amen.
SPEAKER_03You know, so that helped Darion in his growth, you know. Okay. What are some of your favorite memories of raising him?
SPEAKER_01Oh honey, though my one of my my favorite memories of is just Tedarian's uh will, his will to um to just keep going and he because he he just didn't let nothing stop him by the way. And so he would I mean he played uh baseball in uh high school and things like that. And just from when he was a little boy, he just you know, when he walked, he he he walked early, he did just every he superseded everything that the doctors said that he would not do. And so those are like the favorite memories for me of Tedarian, just being that little kid who um had challenges, but he was gonna supersede any and everything that uh uh limitations that people had put on him, you know. So one of my favorite, favorite memories of Tedarian was um um when he was diagnosed.
SPEAKER_02Okay.
SPEAKER_01Uh and he just it didn't break him. You know what I mean, Barley? It didn't break him as a as a young child. How old to have those He was three years old when he was diagnosed with diabetes, yeah. But um he just growing up, just being that little kid who just always just superseded any and everything that that um that was placed before him, Beverly. Um but I won't jump ahead. I'll I'll wait.
SPEAKER_03No, well, you know, you're talking about that particular memory with him being three when the diagnosis came. Describe that to us. Tell us what happened on that day.
SPEAKER_01Well, he um he had been he's like I said, he was three years old and um he wasn't gaining weight or anything like that. And um the doctors had diagnosed him um like right in right in their office, like he had developed a virus and it shut down his pancreas at three years old. And I remember him when the doctor, you know, told me about what his diagnosis was. And we were walking down the hallway, honey, and he I'm crying, and he this little baby looks up at me and says, He says, Mommy, it's gonna be okay. Oh and I knew then, Beverly, that he was he he was my strength. You know what I'm saying? He was my strength, and I was gonna keep on moving and keep on moving forward, and and he was gonna he was gonna he was gonna be the one that was gonna lift me up.
SPEAKER_03Amen.
SPEAKER_01Wow, that's exactly what what he did.
SPEAKER_03Wow. What what kind of young man did Taderian grow into, Wendy? Tell us about the young man.
SPEAKER_01Well, like I said, he he when he he was diagnosed at three years old. So he from right off the rip Beverly, he started taking um insulin shots. And um we had to our whole life had to change, and you know, the way he ate, the way he, the activities that he uh did, because everything that he did affected his sugar. So today was very mature. He was a mature child um because of what we had to deal with. Okay, and he um at three years old, he ended up taking uh insulin shots every day, and I had to have people come over and help me give him shots because he would fight us. And but by the time, you know, by the time he was seven years old, he was checking his own blood sugars, he was giving his own shots at seven years old, Beverly. Seven, Wendy? Yep, seven years old.
SPEAKER_03Oh, God is amazing. God is amazing. I'm just listening because it is really coming to me just how much God imparted into Darien. Just man, what a special, special young man. And the child he was.
SPEAKER_01And the lessons, Beverly, the lessons that he's that that he taught me in dealing with him because I was in nursing school. Okay. And just trying to um, you know, not be condemned in my spirit because as a mom, you know, I should have noticed these symptoms and things like that. But glory be to God that he had he had pediatricians who were very attentive to him. And he, like I said, he ended up having a virus and it it shut down his pancreas. And so from the very moment he was diagnosed, he had to start taking those shots, you know. And at seven years old, he was he was managing it himself. He was managing Wendy. Yep, he was managing.
SPEAKER_03That is amazing, and that is so out the norm.
SPEAKER_01Wow. It is. It is, and that's what stood out to me because I'm like, well, how are we gonna do this? How is this gonna, you know, how is this gonna affect our lives? How are we gonna, you know, and because of who Tedarian was, in his spirit, in his spirit, even as a child, Beverly, it just kind of like it kind of flowed. And the Lord sent people, um, you know, and resources to enable us to manage everything that we had to manage at that time. And um, as he grew, you know, he just grew into this mature individual because he was more always more mature than the children that were, you know, in his grade. And uh because he just had a little bit more responsibility, just wise and mature beyond his years.
SPEAKER_03Wow.
SPEAKER_01Yes, ma'am.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, God can definitely do it. Can he? Oh my gosh.
SPEAKER_01So he just go ahead, honey.
SPEAKER_03So listen, I I'm like, I'm I'm just so in awe just listening to things that, you know, learning more information about Darien and the man, the young man, the child, the baby that he was. Um I want to ask, you you kind of mentioned that there was a lot of things that the doctor said he would never do. Can you share some of those things with us?
SPEAKER_01Absolutely, absolutely. And as as he grew, and when by the time he got to um high school, he had pretty much, you know, managing his diabetes was uh pretty much um he had it down to a science. So he um he decided that he was gonna um play every sport in high school. And he he was uh uh he was a a star baseball player. Oh yeah, he actually uh he was a shortstop and a pitcher and he pitched a 95 mile hour ball, Beverly. And you know, and the doctors the doctors always told him that he would not be able to play any sports, Beverly, because of the the way that the the sugar didn't um you know uh that it didn't process in his body. Okay. So he wouldn't be able to do those um those strenuous things. And today was like, um, no, um, this is what I want to do. And I mean he played baseball, football, track, everything. But the one that he really, really excelled in was baseball. Oh and every every time he had a game or something like that, of course I was a nervous wreck. The doctors were like, well, we don't want him out there on that field and stuff, you know. And he he had a coach um that just really, really saw todarion and just really, really loved to Darion. And I remember one memory I have of him is the coach and his wife came to me and wanted Tedarian to pitch the whole game. And I'm like, no, no, that's no, that's not happening. Uh it's 98 degrees outside. We're not gonna do that, we're not gonna tax his body like that. And they they just assured me, you know, that he could do it. So I went and sat on the sideline and prayed.
SPEAKER_00And to Darien, I'd have been praying too. Oh my gosh. Okay, go off. I'm sorry. Go ahead.
SPEAKER_01Oh, and he pitched a no-hitter that day.
SPEAKER_00No, he did not.
SPEAKER_01Yes, he did. Yes, he did, and so I'm sharing that to say because these moments now that I'm thinking about it, these different moments in Canarian's life and the things that he did, God surely, surely had his hand on that child.
SPEAKER_03Amen. Amen. Amen, sis. I agree with you 100%. So, you know, what what else did they say he would never do that God just, you know, because God is the one. You know, he the one that got the thing.
SPEAKER_01Absolutely. And that was the that was like the biggest thing for Tedarian. Is because he he I it seemed like to me that no matter what they said, he would if they say I'm I'm not gonna be able to do this, I'm gonna do it. He didn't receive it at all, did he?
SPEAKER_03What they said.
SPEAKER_01He didn't receive it. He didn't receive it. He was, you know, you don't speak that over me. I'm gonna do this. And and that's what he did, Baverley. And, you know, as as he grew, you know, throughout the years, uh just watching the different areas of of of his life where um if there were always you know different limitations set upon him, you know, that he just didn't uh didn't accept. And I I remember uh one one of the biggest things for Tedarian um was high school. And um he, you know, Tedarian was um very active in church. He sang in the choir, he was on the drill team, and they had like a they had a program called Senior Distinction Um the year he was in uh high in a senior in high school. And they honored all the um all the seniors, you know. But when we went to uh do you remember those old OGT tests that they used to say? Absolutely. So he had taken that test and he missed it by like three points and wasn't able to graduate. You know, even though he had all his, and matter of fact, Tadieran had all his credit, he had more credits, more credits than enough to graduate, but because of that OGT test, he didn't graduate. But I'm telling this memory right now to point out how God moved in that situation because we literally had to fight to um you know, fight in the Board of Education to allow him to take the test and just different things like that. And even in that, even though I knew that today was very disappointed, but Tedarian didn't he didn't manifest um emotions out like that, like he did not, he he just had a a a piece about him, and you know, he just he just kept it moving, and um what ended up happening is before he passed the uh Ohio Board of Education awarded him his diploma. Oh my goodness, praise God, and they even brought it to the funeral home. But I'm making that point to say because of Tedarian, 300 graduates were able to receive their diplomas.
SPEAKER_03Oh, praise God, now that's awesome. Oh my goodness, they had to overturn other seniors that were in that same situation is what you're saying.
SPEAKER_01Throughout the years, oh gosh, not to not just the year that todarian graduated, but over the years, the people that did not receive their diplomas because of that test, and because of todarian, all all that was overturned. And so I'm saying that to say, look, it had to Darion not, you know, passed that test or what have you, 300 people wouldn't have been blessed. So to Darien to God, todarian's challenge and was used to bless 300 people.
SPEAKER_03Amen. That ooh glory to God. That's powerful.
SPEAKER_01Ooh, we're that God is oh, he always has a strategy.
SPEAKER_03Oh my goodness.
SPEAKER_01Yes, oh my goodness. Yes, and at the time, you don't at the time you don't see it and you don't realize and you don't recognize it because as his mom, I was angry, Beverly. Oh, you absolutely because I knew how hard this kid had worked through high school, he worked through high school with an illness, and he he earned more credits than he was required. And here he was not gonna be able to graduate. But when looking at the bigger picture that the Lord used him to bless 300 more people. You know, I didn't I didn't of course I didn't I didn't see that in the beginning. But as time, you know, we when they when they brought his um diploma there and um I was notified that you know 300 people because of him were gonna receive their diploma. And that's when that's when I I I realized and I recognized just how um ordained his life was just how uh supernatural his life was because there was nothing natural about today. Oh no everything everything was super natural about my kid. Amen.
SPEAKER_03When you know in when I look back in hindsight about just the different things that um uh caused him to be the most peaceful young man the most mannerable young man um everybody that met him um loved him and I I really can't I don't know anybody that has anything um negative to say about todarian uh everybody that encountered him encountered God I believe that I believe that that each and every person that countered encountered him they encountered God amen just by his his disposition and just um how he treated people yes he treated everybody in spite of his challenges he always extended grace to everybody else amen amen and that is such a um such a uh a a hand a fingerprint of who God is amen amen you know and so winning and I'm just thankful for that there is one more big huge thing that I know that God blessed today with let's let's talk about that amen amen well they had um they told us that like nine years old they told us that you know todarian would never have children you know simply because of the fact that he was diagnosed at three years old um with the diabetes and the years of of diabetes that he wouldn't have children um however when the doctor said no god said yes so today was the proud father of one son one son and uh his name is Dominic and he um that that in itself with him you know he he he just never thought he was gonna have children you know so when Dominic came along I remember him saying to me says mom my greatest accomplishment in life is Dominic amen how beautiful and how beautiful and he was an amazing dad in spite of being sick Beverly um he he he worked like a dog like he worked because he wanted to provide for that baby you know and so uh he was an amazing father and him and Dominic had such a uh it was such a uh it was such an amazing relationship between those two you know and I I he he was just that dad that just constantly uh where you saw todarian you saw Dominic oh you know what I mean and it was just like this little todarian and that and I know that I know that that gave him just like what he did for me yes what he did for me uh when he slipped into my life um lifting me um my face all of that Beverly and I know that that's what Dominic provided for todarian you know the will to keep moving the will to you know because we know that you know when people people are sick and just don't want to um you know just don't want to don't want to do things or what have you but a lot of times it's your children and your grandchildren that keep keep you pushing I absolutely absolutely can relate to I think that is so beautiful Wendy that you said that Dominic um provided the same love and support and inspiration for todarion that todarion did for you that is that is a beautiful legacy beautiful yes just it is and like I said we when you know everything that that the doctors and everybody said about todarian um God said different amen god said different you know and um and the fact that today just he wasn't accepting of of those limitations you know it's just a testament of of of God's goodness and he I I feel like you know today's relationship with God early on um even today was very quiet um he didn't you know it's you know say a lot you know what I mean but his actions toward people his actions toward his son um just exuded the the goodness of God and God's spirit it spoke volumes Wendy because I remember when I met today when he came to church and just you know just always greeting to after service what a wonderful five of you is in all that you all know how you've done it with several kinds of it's been a beautiful thing to uh be a witness to right because who who does that though who does that it's you know what I mean and I that's what I learned about myself I remember I remember when he was diagnosed and you know I remember questioning Beverly I mean I quite you know like why would my son why would you know why would he be diagnosed with diabetes or what have you and I remember my mother saying to me why you know why not y'all why not y'all Wendy she said God doesn't give those kids to just anybody yes and I realized in that moment that he trusted me he trusted me to steward that life amen that's powerful Wendy and that's powerful what your mom said too you know that that is true.
SPEAKER_01Amen yeah because in the natural in the natural you know who does that and when I look back on our life and all the things that we went through all the you know um hospital stays and every time that today came out of something you know it just increased my faith in God and what he what he could do you know and it it's it's it's so true the saying that God can show you better than he can tell you. Amen amen so when when we walked through those things and we came out on the other side each and every time that just increased my faith in him you know so I'm just so thankful and grateful that he trusted me to steward that life.
SPEAKER_03Amen amen for 36 years you know 36 years 36 years.
SPEAKER_01Amen so I I know as moms there's moments that you know we never expect to face um would you feel comfortable you know sharing um the season when today became very ill and before the Lord took him home with him absolutely absolutely well um I want to say around like the age of 24 um today was working as usual because he he started working at 14 and just kept it pushing girl and so um at the age of 24 uh he was working at Fligner's um meat market and he was a meat cutter and you know he had started getting getting sick a little and um we were in his doctor's his endocrinologist office uh one day and he he had gotten some labs back and you know he told us that uh today's kidneys were failing and he had told him that the his his professional advice would be for him to stop working because you know that was just taxing on his body and I remember today looked at him and he said oh okay well I'll I'll give them my two weeks notice you know and the doctor's looking at him he's like no honey he said no you you have to be done today you know but even in that Beverly um he had a piece about it okay he had a piece about him you know and and and I remember sitting there thinking you know I'm devastated you know but today and he was devastated I'm sure however the way he projected it he just he I know that God gave him peace in that moment and so seeing how he would handle things just encouraged me and that caused me to fight harder you know what I mean fight fight harder fight stronger you know and so um he had the the renal failure and then he immediately had to start on dialysis for sick T he did that for six years and by the grace of God he had the doctors that that that fought for him and spoke for him and he was able to get a uh a kidney and a pancreas transplant and so that enabled him to live five more years without diabetes beverly oh my goodness really yeah yeah they transplanted a pancreas and it enabled his body to um break down the sugar and so he he was gifted with five years without something that he dealt with his whole entire life. So I look at how God gave him that you know what I'm saying you know because we we know that God knew you know that todarian's time here was when it was going to be completed. So I feel like he you know just enabled him to experience life um as as as a normal individual because that was a big part of what I tried to provide for today. I never wanted him to feel like he was different you know what I'm saying when he was a little boy um you know having to get shots and things like that you know I always wanted to provide a space where he felt normal. Right right and so that's what we did and um he it was five years and then the new kidney the kidney ended up failing after five years. And you know and we knew um that was information that we had um you know from the transplant team and things like that that you know like some people go longer but a lot of people you know don't go past five years with uh transplanted uh organs and so excuse me and so um we were getting back on the the transplant list and he developed a um a condition called cascophylaxis which as a nurse you know I knew what that meant you know what I mean because it would harden his arteries and all that kind of stuff you know but in the midst of all that praying constantly speaking life over him and I remember my mom said to me one time and she was like you know you just you just keep on fighting you keep on fighting I'm like yeah I'm gonna fight so I can't fight no more for this child you know and so um when he when when he got really sick um I remember the last time that we were uh standing in my kitchen and Tedarian came up to me and he gave me the biggest hug and he was like mom I'm so sorry and I thought he was just you know saying he was sorry about you know just things that were going on and stuff like that but in that moment I knew he was tired and so it was like you know I was having all these different encounters and these different moments of um of revelation of what God was getting ready to do you know what I mean and um my cousin was here from out of town and we were in my kitchen um we were praying and worshiping and I remember her saying to me she said Wendy lift your hand up and I lifted my hand up and she told me afterwards she said she had a vision of a cherub above me dropping like a uh a pillowcase over me and the Lord showed me later on that he was swaddling me oh my gosh you know and he was covering me for the journey we were getting ready to uh endure you know and so and like I want to say about a week later he ended up in the hospital and that was when he he never he you know he never um he never recovered but in that in that time the Lord was guiding me he was leading me um because I had worked for hospice and I remember like working at hospice and I did it for like 10 years but I now you know look in hindsight I see how the Lord was preparing me you know I had all the information of what uh you know what to do when someone was you know at the end of life and things like that and he just really really really prepared me Beverly and I I'm so grateful for that because I remember when the doctor said to me that there was not you know that there were different things that they were trying to do for him. And I remember going to my mom's house and I was standing there and when the Lord revealed to me that today was going to be transitioning and I remember I took off running Beverly and I took off running and I I was I found myself on my hands and knees in my mother's bedroom in my mom's bedroom and I was screaming but when I looked up Beverly my family was all around the bed praying and that enabled me to get up off that floor Beverly I got up off that floor and I went to the hospital the next day because I feel like the Holy Spirit had he had he had completed it. He had let me know because there were so many times that today was on the brink of not being here yes but it wasn't time yes it wasn't time because today honey we used to always say to Darien had nine lives girl because he would always come back he would always come back you know and we'd be like you know and the doctors would be like looking at me like we don't we don't understand what happened you know but she's gonna be okay and things like that but I just realized that it just was not time but when the Lord showed me that it was time in the midst of it all he showed me the the the people that I had around me praying and interceding on his behalf you know and so the day that um that he went home um I was sitting next to him in the hospital and I'm sitting next to him and I'm praying and the Holy Spirit clearly said to me like I'm talking to you right now Beverly he said look at your baby and I turned to look at Tedarian just in time for him to take his last breath and so in that moment I had an overwhelming sense of gratitude though and all I could say was thank you Jesus because I was there when that baby took his first breath and I was right there when he took his last Beverly and I couldn't do nothing but praise God and what was so crazy Beverly is I sat there with him for three you know his friends everybody was there and I sat there for three hours and couldn't move but when I went to move Beverly I went to go touch him and he was still warm and as a nurse as a nurse I know that physiologically that is impossible. That's impossible but the Lord said to me he said your baby will never be cold again because any and everybody that knows today girl anybody that knows today today was a freeze baby honey he it could be a thousand degrees outside but he got a he got a heater on honey and the Lord was so kind and so gracious to give me that and tell me that my baby would never be cold again amen amen and that in itself everything and then my daughter my daughter was crying but she was thanking Jesus she was thanking Jesus barely so in that moment I realized oh my goodness oh my goodness because the Lord had he said to me so clear I knew when I formed him in your womb 36 years five months and 23 days I would call him back to me and ever since then Beverly I had such peace the peace that passes all understanding and in and through that baby God gave me that and so when I'm encouraging people when I'm because the Lord has led me to minister to mothers who have lost children yes Beverly how can I do that if I didn't lose one amen so that's true that is true so I look at the destiny the how predestined everything was you know and how strategic everything about today's life was because when I say everything about todar's life was supernatural I mean that.
SPEAKER_03Amen. I mean that. Amen. We know a mother's love never ends, even when a child is no longer physically present. So just how tell us how do you honor Tadarian's memory today?
SPEAKER_01I talk about it. Amen. I talk about him every chance I get. Amen. Every chance I get because of the simple fact that his story is so profound, Beverly, um, and just the way he lived his life and his, you know, his child, his his his sister, his his sisters, his uncles, his grandma, just everybody that was so affected by Tedarian. Yes. And I just believe that we all are better people for having encountered todarian. Um everybody that met him, everybody that, you know, everybody that seen him, they saw God.
SPEAKER_03Yes.
SPEAKER_01Even if they don't know it.
SPEAKER_03What do you want people to remember most about todarian if you had one thing to pick?
SPEAKER_01His will. Amen. His will to keep going and um to love, to love, because today loved everybody. You know what I'm saying? Yes. And and to me, that exudes the the power of God because in the midst of him, you being you being a sick individual, but yet you still have the ability to love.
SPEAKER_03Yes, that's powerful and that's beautiful. Yeah, that's strength also from the Lord. Man, oh yeah, yeah, and that makes me think about um Isaiah 61 and 3 to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning. God does not promise that we will never experience sorrow, but he sure enough promises that he will walk with us through every season of our lives. So, Wendy, what encouragement would you share with our moms listening today who may be walking through grief or deep loss?
SPEAKER_01My biggest encouragement for a mom who is walking through that journey because that that that journey is um um so difficult. And I feel like if you don't have a relationship with God, that that's just you you you won't make it. You you you just you you just won't make it because I am very clear, I'm very clear, very clear, that it was only by the grace of God that I'm still standing, Beverly. You know what I mean? Because of the simple fact that you have an individual um that is in your life, you know, like I said, I was a teen mom. Yeah, you know, so I've I grew we grew up I was too, Wendy.
SPEAKER_03I mean, just to say that I you know I I was 19 when um Brandon, my firstborn, came along. So everything that you know you were saying about that, I can definitely relate. I grew up in the church, so you can imagine when the church girl turned up pregnant.
SPEAKER_04Oh man.
SPEAKER_03But praise God, you know that my mom was like your mom. My mom uh loved on me, she she her love for me did not change when I finally got up the courage to tell her. And she was her and and Brandon, she honestly she was the best grandmother, the best.
SPEAKER_01Amen.
SPEAKER_03So I know I can relate to a lot of you know what you were saying.
SPEAKER_01And that's the same thing with my mom and today, and like I mean, today and my mom was his best friend, you know what I mean? But um um, like I was saying, like I know that um it was only by the grace of God that I am still standing, and that's what I would encourage moms because in our humanity, Beverly, in our humanity, um we you know, how how can God allow this to happen? Yes, you know, and I'm saying, but we don't serve a cruel God.
SPEAKER_03Amen.
SPEAKER_01No, we don't know we do not, you know, and he told me, you know, todarian's life was purpose, and when it was complete, when his purpose on this side was complete, he called him home, but he also assured me that every blessing that today um uh provided for people here in the natural in his physical form, yes, is nothing compared to what it's going to be on the other side. So I'm fully persuaded, fully persuaded, you know, because as Christians, we don't grieve like the world does, Beverly. We just don't. No, we don't, you know, because the Holy Spirit gave me specific instructions. You can be sad, Wendy, but don't stay there, don't stay there because the enemy is waiting to drag you. Because one of the things that I know is that the enemy will ride in on your grief, he will ride in on your grief, you know, and then you got depression and you got anxiety, you got all of that, and I'm gonna tell you right now, I can I can honestly testify today that I have no depression and I have no anxiety. And how is that possible with a woman walking life without her child, without her son, her only son? And I just I give God the glory for that because that's that's that's just not that's just that's not natural. No, no, speak so speak not natural, and I have you know, his legacy, his legacy is walking around here living, breathing, succeeding. Yes, he is, you know what I mean, overcome overcoming, overcoming trials and steady, steady, steady praising the Lord. And you know, even though it's his loss, you know, of his father, yes, um, you know, he's had some challenges, but but by the grace of God, amen, still moving forward, he's still moving forward, just like Tedarian told me to do. He said, Mom, he said, you got this, keep moving forward, amen.
SPEAKER_03You know, so amen. Wow, man, this has been uh such a beautiful time together, and uh sis, I just have such I just love you. I just admire so many things about you. So man, this has been a beautiful time, and I'm sorry, I just got I man, I'm sorry. I certainly was not expecting the Holy Spirit to fall and you know, just kind of fall on me, just listening to you, you know, give your testimony. And um, I just I thank you, I love you. So thank you, mom. I just want to uh say very gently to you today that the love a mother carries for her child never fades, and even when we walk through seasons of grief, God is still near us. And Psalms 34 and 18, excuse me, tells us that the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. So if you're listening today and you're carrying loss in your heart, know that God sees your tears and his love is holding you. And moms, you know, I never end a podcast without going to the throne. So um whatever you're doing, uh maybe cooking dinner or um listening quietly, or if you're driving, we understand. We want you to be safe. Just settle your hearts and turn your hearts and minds toward the throne of God. Father God, we thank you for this moment, for this time, Lord. We thank you for the life that has been honored in this conversation today. Lord, we lift up Wendy to you. You have been her strength, her comfort, her courage, and her sustainer. Lord, continue to hold her close. Lord, continue to wrap her in your peace and remind her daily that you are always close by. We thank you for the life of Tedarian, for who he was, for the love he brought, for the impact of his life that continues even now, God, through his legacy, Dominic. Father, we also lift up every mother listening. You know, every heart, every story, every place of grief, concern, or even quiet fear. Meet them right where they are, Lord. Strengthen them, comfort them, and restore them in the name of Jesus. Help us as mothers to trust you with our sons in every season and in every circumstance, knowing that you love them even more than we do. Let your peace rest on us today and let us be in your presence, Lord. And let us leave this moment reminded that you are still God, still faithful and still near in Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you for joining us today on the Mom of Sons podcast, Faith Conversations. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to my sister Wendy for sharing her story, her faith, and the beautiful memories of her son to Darien with us today. Stories like Wendy's remind us that motherhood carries many seasons, moments of joy, moments of growth, and sometimes moments of sorrow. But through every season, God remains faithful. If today's conversation touched your heart, I encourage you to hold your sons a little closer, pray over them a little longer, and remember the incredible gift that motherhood truly is. Um you can also visit the Mom of Sons blog, that's Momsofsons. For weekly scripture, prayer, and encouragement. And also follow the Mom of Sons Facebook page where the conversation and encouragement continues. Wendy, I love you. Thank you for joining us today. Thank you, Beverly. God bless you abundantly. And until next time, mom. Continue raising your sons to love God and lead with faith and integrity. This is Beverly Taylor Wells, and this is the Mom of Sons podcast, Faith Conversation.