Happy Valentine’s to You!
I would like to introduce you to my friend Peggy C. Kannan.
In 2019 on Christmas Eve, she lost her husband. The crazy part about this is, that same night, I surprised my family with the release of my first fruits in music and print—My Mended Heart was revealed to my family along with 6 songs I had recorded in a studio. I was able to take this CD and book to Peggy the next day and say, “Peggy, this is my first fruits, and we can do this. I love you and I’m going to cheer you on along the way.” She loved it so much that she bought 1,000 books from me. She said, “I see so many hurting people and I know this will help them.”
I believe Peggy will write a book one day too. Her 29 years of marriage was a beautiful thing to watch. In the last two years of her husband’s life, I got to be a fly on the wall. They took me on a few road trips to the outer banks. These are moments that I will cherish forever.
1 Corinthians 13 is the love chapter in the Bible. Here is the full passage from The Passion Translation:
“If I were to speak with eloquence in earth’s many languages, and in the heavenly tongues of angels, yet I didn’t express myself with love, my words would be reduced to the hollow sound of nothing more than a clanging cymbal.” Wow, that’s clear.
“And if I were to have the gift of prophecy with a profound understanding of God’s hidden secrets, and if I possessed unending supernatural knowledge, and if I had the greatest gift of faith that could move mountains, but have never learned to love, then I am nothing.” None of these gifted powers matter if love isn’t the leader behind our voice and discernment.
“And if I were to be so generous as to give away everything I owned to feed the poor, and to offer my body to be burned as a martyr, without the pure motive of love, I would gain nothing of value.” Our works will not save us and there is no eternal reward attached to them if love is not at the center.
Love is...
“Love is large and incredibly patient.
Love is gentle and consistently kind to all.
It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else.
Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance. Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense.
Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong.
Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others.
Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up.
Love never stops loving.
It extends beyond the gift of prophecy, which eventually fades away.
It is more enduring than tongues, which will one day fall silent.
Love remains long after words of knowledge are forgotten.”
“Our present knowledge and our prophecies are but partial, but when love’s perfection arrives, the partial will fade away. When I was a child, I spoke about childish matters, for I saw things like a child and reasoned like a child. But the day came when I matured, and I set aside my childish ways. For now we see but a faint reflection of riddles and mysteries as though reflected in a mirror, but one day we will see face-to-face. My understanding is incomplete now, but one day I will understand everything, just as everything about me has been fully understood. Until then, there are three things that remain: faith, hope, and love—yet love surpasses them all. So above all else, let love be the beautiful prize for which you run.”
Why did I add this passage?
Because, the love I saw Peggy give her husband until his last day was honorable, humbling, moving, and something to be celebrated. They lived life until the very end. Even after death, she didn’t stop loving me forward. She is an intercessor as well. She prays often and prays fervently!! She has been a constant voice of encouragement. Big hugs, some tears, and a good road trip have been a constant.
She loves Jesus. She has seen Him do miracles in her life and her extended family’s lives. She prays for our city. She awakes in the night praying for whoever the Holy Spirit puts on her heart, and He puts me on her heart often. She loves to sing. She leaves me voicemails saying, “You are my sunshine my only sunshine you make me happy when skies are grey. You never know dear how much I love you, please don’t take my sunshine away.”
Peggy has a personality that is like sunshine. Big heart. Big hugs. Big smile. She loves deeply and she is inspiring. If you see her, give her a hug. A hug is a good thing.
So, this is my tribute to Peggy. Happy Valentine’s to you, Peggy.
Here are two songs that express to me her current prayers and her loving forward, looking toward her future tomorrow with joy:
Honesty by Jason Gray
What the Hard Times Taught Me by Jason Gray
Thank you, Peggy for loving me the “Peggy way”. Thank you for including me in some of your getaways. You have helped me heal more than you know. Grief is a tender thing, and when God brings you people who help make the grief process that much easier, you just say, Thank you for everything!!
Thank you, Peggy!
I love you, Peggy!
The best is yet to come, Peggy!
2021 is about finding fun!!
Until next time,
Stay tender.
Connect to the Mender.
Be a sender.
P.S. I have some exciting things to share in March. So, be on the lookout for some very exciting news.
#TributeToPeggy #MyMendedHeart #Inthesendingcomesthemending