Celebration of Life, Family, and Faith: Collection of Poems, Tributes, and Stories

by Georgia McCain

Overview

This book is a collection of poems, stories, and tributes that Georgia Davenport McCain wrote over a 40 year period. They celebrate her life, family, and faith.

Since she had 10 published books, mostly Christian novels or celebrations of her faith, her family often encouraged her to publish her book of poems. Even though she indicated a willingness to do this someday, she never did. After her death as a result of injuries suffered in an automobile accident, a binder of her poems was discovered in her house. Unfortunately, one of the poems not discovered was her poem she had read to family members to be presented at her funeral.

Her poems provide a perspective of life experiences. “Celebration of Southern Expressions” provides a tribute to many of the Southern expressions that are common to her friends and family in the Deep South, but may not be recognized elsewhere. “The Snake Story” describes her experience discovering a snake in the chapel while delivering a funeral tribute. “Tribulations of a Politicians Wife” provides a view of her life as the wife of an elected Police Juror in Louisiana. “The Cat Law” gives a perspective on an effort to pass an ordinance to control cats. “The Old Folks Home” describes the difficult but joyful transition to living in an “old folks home”. “A Tribute to My Daughter and the Senior Citizen Center of Ball” describes her daughter's initiative to get her connected with the Senior Center, her initial reluctance, and the eventual great joy she received from the Senior Center”. “The Birthday Surprise” was written to her sisters to “confess” to a birthday prank. “My Special Day, Mother's Day' and “Mamma's Blues” conveys a mother's loneliness sometimes felt with remote children.

Her poems included many tributes to her family. “MeMaw's Words of Wisdom” and “Nanny's Poem for Lauren's Wedding” were requested by granddaughters to be read at their weddings. “A Tribute to My Family” was a poem she read at her Golden Anniversary Celebration that celebrates the lives of her children and grandchildren. “Conning Mamma” was read at her 60th Anniversary Celebration and describes her daughter's secretive attempts to extract her recipes for publication of a cookbook to be distributed at the celebration. Also included are poems to celelebrate the birthdays of 4 children and the life of a grandson who died of spinal meningitis, provide advice to a granddaughter living in Nigeria, and memorial tributes to deceased sisters. There are also two tribute poems for close church friends.

Several poems celebrate her faith. “Little Things Used of God” provide 3 different stories of the impact made from seemingly small acts of kindness and faith, including befriending an alcoholic, sending a card to a hospital patient, and demonstrating kindness to an angry neighbor. “A Mother's Prayer” demonstrates a mother's burden for her children and faith that all will be reunited in heaven. “Look to the Savior” urges the reader to look to the Savior as an answer to deal with life's many trials, tribulations, and challenges. “This God is Our God” was written as an introduction to her book, “Remarkable Incidents and Answers to Prayer” and emphazizes the greatness of God and his presence when needed.

There are a few other non-poetic items included. A summary of her published books, as well as a few letters from readers, are provided. A letter, written to her sister in 1996 about growing up in the 20's , 30's, and 40's, provides an incredible look at the “way things were” for many in that genearation. A tribute to her father-in-law, delivered at his funeral at 106-years old, provides an interesting perspective of his life and his Christian conversion at 88 years old.

Finally, her funeral tribute delivered by her son, Dr. Danny McCain, in 2013, is included.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940153974262
Publisher:	Georgia McCain
Publication date:	01/19/2017
Sold by:	Smashwords
Format:	eBook
File size:	545 KB

About the Author

Mrs. McCain died from injuries sustained in an automobile accident at age 87 on December 9, 2013. She maintained her Christian commitment and ministry, as well as her writing skills, until the time of her unfortunate death.

At the time of her death, many of her books were out of print. To preserve the books and allow many new readers to enjoy, the books are being converted to e-books by her family. To increase relevancy and impact to a more contemporary and international audience, minor edits to the original text have been made to some of the books.

The following article was published in the Cenla Focus in October 2012 prior to Mrs. McCain's death, and provides a synopsis of Mrs. McCain's life as an author. It was authored by Holly Jo Linzay

Georgia McCain, an author of 10 published books, recalls the day she felt the Lord Jesus lead her to start writing. "I was standing in the kitchen, and God asked me, 'What is that in your hand?" McCain remembers, and answered, "'Only a pen, Lord.' Then He asked me if I would use the pen for his honor and glory, and I said, 'Yes, Lord, as you direct me, I will write for the glory and honor of God."

That very night, her first short novel unfolded completely from beginning to end. "The Lord gave me the name of the book and just opened up the story for me from the first page to the last," notes McCain about her first book, Through Troubled Waters, which was published more than 40 years ago. Her first book is a work of fiction interwoven with Biblical truths. McCain has sold thousands of copies, and has received letters from people all over the world expressing how the book touched their hearts. "I never dreamed about writing a book, let alone getting one published,' McCain notes.

As a child, McCain wrote poems and made up short stories. In the ninth grade, as her teacher was passing out Christmas gifts to the class, she called McCain to the front of the classroom. She told the class that Georgia had a gift for all her classmates. Stunned, McCain realized her teacher had made copies of a story she had written and shared it with the class. From time to time, she would write another short story. Later, she was asked by a preacher to write a story that would continue and develop in a religious paper. 'I told him that I couldn't just sit down and write a story. God had to give me the thoughts: McCain recalls, remembering it was later that night that she heard God question her about writing. When her son, Danny, came home from college, he read her story, Through Troubled Waters, and encouraged McCain to get it published. "Everything I write, I want it to honor God,' McCain says with conviction.

The 84-year-old author is a woman of prayer, and has lived a life in pursuit of holiness. Growing up as one of 14 children In the rural community of Rigolette, McCain graduated from Tioga High School. At 19 years old, she met and started dating a young man named Carl McCain. He worked as a lineman for South Central Bell and she was working as a telephone operator. After a whirlwind courtship, the two were married on July 1, 1946.

The young couple made their home in Rigolette and raised their seven children--Ronald, Danny, Kenny, Randy, Barry, Donna and Jackie. The family attended Tioga Wesleyan Methodist Church, where Georgia and Carl served in every ministry they could. They have 19 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. The two were married for 62 years before Carl passed away. Her home is a testament to a close-knit family with photographs vying for space on shelves stocked full with mementoes from the grandchildren. A legacy of love is showcased with framed drawings from the kids alongside epic poems written by McCain about her family.

In between her serving at her church and raising seven children, McCain found time to write more books. Her second book, Trials and Triumphs, is non-fiction and retates many of her personal experiences, including the loss of her four-month-old grandson, Nathaniel, to meningitis. Her third book, a fictional novel, Shattered Shackles, deals with alcoholism and its affect on a family. "My daddy was an alcoholic, who would say he was tapering off when he was trying to quit. Later, he did sober up," McCain says, adding that her real-life experience probably played a role in the book.

Another of her books, God's Little Lambs, is a compilation of stories written for children that can be read as bedtime stories or for family devotions. At one time, McCain says she felt impressed to write a novel about some twins. In Straight Paths, the story of fiery-tempered "Connie Slocum" unwinds as she struggles with heartaches, persecution, separation and loneliness. In the book's sequel, Plucked Out ofthe Net, Connie's twin brother, "Donnie Slocum," is featured in a story of redemption.

Three of McCain's books have dealt with prayer and answers to "prevailing" prayer. "It is absolutely amazing that God has spoken to me over and over, and keeps giving me books to write. He has faithfully led me all the way," notes McCain. In all, she has written 10 books, and family and friends are after her to write a book of poems. She has written long poems with clever rhymes marking nearly every milestone in her and her family's life.

It does not take long to get caught up reading one of McCain's books, and believing the incredible stories of faith in the non-fiction books. Written In such honest prose, her words flow from her heart and from a life seeking after holiness. If her books inspire and encourage or cause someone to "seek the Lord," then McCain says the books have served their purpose. "God deserves all the glory for anything accomplished through the writing or reading of these books," she emphasizes.

A woman of faith, McCain has taught Sunday School and Bible studies in just about every ministry at her church. In addition, for the last 34 years, she has taught three different Bible study groups at three different nursing homes. McCain has been honored and received numerous awards for her volunteer service from Ball Senior Citizens Center and various nursing homes. In 2001, she was named the Volunteer of the Year of Tioga Manor and named "Most Faithful" volunteer at two other nursing homes.

When her husband Carl served for a number of years on the Rapides Parish Police Jury, McCain supported him by participating in a variety of ways in the community. Known as a great cook by her family and friends, her daughter, Donna, presented her with a cookbook of the family recipes on her 50th wedding anniversary. Besides serving the Lord, McCain says her most important role in life has been as a wife and mother. She said all her children are “successful and love the Lord," and that they never gave her a "lick of trouble" beceuse she kept them in church and a "switch on their behinds", if needed. Her son, Danny, who is a missionary in Nigeria, even calls her every day.

McCain says she is "blessed beyond measure by the Lord" with family and friends. Some have called her a "prayer warrior," in seeking God's will in her life. One piece of advice she freely gives out to all who will listen is the same encouragement she offers in her last book, Walking with God for Over 50 Years, "Sometimes when we can't seem to pray our way through, we can often times praise our way through to God. Try it."