#WyntersLegacy

….its been a whirlwind of a week….

I have been having a difficult time processing losing my friend Wynter. I guess I am at a age now where you begin to lose friends. I know you can lose friends at any age, but for me, I am just now experiencing this. I could write on and on about Wynter and what GIANT FAITH she had even with her short stature.

I told myself I would stay away from social media because it would be too overwhelming to see all of the pictures and memories…. but in all honesty it has been beautiful. I have read every single post that I have seen on social media- Twitter/Instagram/Facebook – and watched this past weeks Bible Study from OCBF.

It has been so amazing to see the impact that she made on the world. What I truly believe that what you do for Christ will last. If you didn’t know Wynter I will tell you this – she loved the Lord and the Lord loved her. Next to that, she loved her Jonathan and her four little girls. I rarely saw her without a smile. I have been reading posts from her family members, friends, and her church family – but also from those she has had the opportunity to impact as a result of her ministry, her books, and her magazine! WoW!!! What a life she has lived.

Your faith is demonstrated in your movement. 

Shad had great faith! Great movement. I really feel like in the past few years she didn’t stop moving. She was busy as a wife, mother, her ministry of For Girls Like You, being an author with her husband and her daughter, and having a daughter in a recent film- War Room.

I remember when she was just starting ‘For Girls Like You’ magazine …. I subscribed and I had it in my classroom. I don’t have girls of my own, but I was super excited to have some thing positive in my classroom for my young girls to read. They fell in love with that magazine and one of my students even had something printed in it. I will never forget that!

When I met Wynter – I didn’t think we had much in common besides Jesus. I am learning more and more that having Jesus in common with someone is more than enough. Wynter – wife and mom. Karla- not wife- not mom. What in the world will we talk about??? Were gonna be friends? She always found conversation with me. Even if she was just asking how I was doing and what was going on with me (and most importantly- if I was dating anyone- sadly that answer was always no – but she always encouraged me in that to wait on God -Wynt. I am still waiting on God).

I even joined the launch team for her most recent book …. I have always been such a big supporter of all that she did because I saw the heart and passion that she put into her work. She gave it 110% all the time. It meant so much to me as someone whose not a mom of girls – to see her faith in action – with her busy life- I was always reminded that I can do what I need to do for the Kingdom … she has shared a beautiful message of faith and love with the world … the world is better because of her.

As I was preparing for my move to Shanghai she encouraged me a lot with coming to China. Some days I really questioned it and she reminded me that if God told me to do it- always say Yes to GOD and let your faith take you to where He wants you to go. So here I am in China… I have been here for 9 months and I literally stopped in my tracks when I got the news about my friend. I can remember exactly where I was when my Althea called me with the news. I am thankful she called me because she didn’t want me to find out on Facebook/Social Media. Since Wednesday I have been hurt, my heart literally hurts, if you have experienced loss of any kind – I am sure you know what I am feeling. What makes me smile is that – Sweet Wynter is with the Lord. HE rejoices when HE is able to receive one of his own. We are so precious to HIM and HE had this day planned. It is extremely tough for us here left behind – but oh what a beautiful experience to be worshiping with the King of all Kings.

I feel like I am rambling some … loss is tough… grief has no set standard. There is no one way to grieve. I feel like I have been hurting for a long time…. Well if I am honest I have been … I am on day 427 since my dad died and that in and of itself has been its own journey…. and now I can add the loss of a friend … whew!

I am shocked that I don’t have many pictures with Wynter, but I am so thankful that I have loads of memories. I can see her smile and I can hear her voice. I am so grateful for the years of friendship we had together and how she was always able to make time for me in her busy life. I miss my friend. More than ever because the last time I saw her she said I can’t wait for to come home and we can catch up about China. So I promise to share about my time in China with all of you! I am blessed to have this opportunity and I do not take it for granted.

#WyntersLegacy – she has left a great legacy with all of us…. honor God in all that you do. Love Him fully and completely. What you do for Christ will last. You have ministry and it is so much bigger than you. Take it seriously.

Death makes us think about everything. Everything. You start to reevaluate life and relationships. I urge you to take life seriously. Tell your family and friends that you love and care about them. Go and check on that person that you have been thinking about. Pay it forward today. Share a smile. Be a blessing to someone.

 

One great memory with my friend – We went to spin class for Althea’s birthday. It was all Althea’s idea. We (Karla and Wynter) were both not fans of spin class — Althea said today “You and Wynter were some true haters!” Yeah we were…. Wynter even blogged about it…. (https://www.ibelieve.com/blogs/wynter-pitts/keep-spinning.html) – you can check out her post about when you have a moment  – but we stuck it out for a friend. We have laughed about this ‘party’ Althea had us go to for years … spin class? for a birthday? huh??? but Althea was so happy and it wasn’t about us… so I shall end this blog with Wynter’s words:

Most often when placed in situations we don’t prefer it’s not really about us. We are all just here playing a part in a bigger story.

I am sure you are playing a part in a bigger story. Take your time with your role. Make it count! Your chapter in the story matters.

 

I love you sweet Wynter! …until we meet again …. 

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This song came to find this week as I have been thinking about Wynter and her life.

Well done good and faithful servant. Well Done. Well Done.

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Wynter’s family shares about Faith and Loss: 

If you are dealing with loss this video from my home church’s bible study this past week may be helpful for you. It’s about 45 minutes.

 

 

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I am excited about life! I am filled with Hope. I am overwhelmed with JOY!

I am going to do my best to live by the ‘Glad Texts’ 

(one of my favorites is–Psalms 98:4-Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,
burst into jubilant song with music) — Did you know that there are over 800 Glad Texts in the Bible?!?! More than one for each day of the year for me to live by.

#FearlessinShanghai #Thankful #joychangeslives #KMarieTakesChina #BlackGirlMagic #KarlaGirlLivingLife #BlackGirlJoy #LivingMyLifeLikeItsGolden #ChinaorBust #ChinaAintReady #BlackInShanghai #LookOutWorldHereComesKarla  #KarlaGirlJoy #BlackGirlInShanghai #eatsleeppartyrepeat #givingisgood #givingisfun #WakandaForever #ShuriAndNakiaAndOkoye #MelaninMagic #Blessed #FaithfulIsMyGod

“life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all”  – Hellen Keller

*I choose ADVENTURE*