07/08/2024
On June 5. 2020, I had a dream about my friend, and I shared it with her:
“Bernadette and I received a special invitation, to a special Anointing Service. You were being anointed, by your pastor and his wife. In the dream, their names weren’t revealed; but, it was evident, that they were pastors who knew you very well, knew your life's contribution, and respected your ministry.
When we arrived at the church, everyone was so friendly...as though we were known, and were simply returning. And we felt that same kindredness...as though we were at home. We were seated up front, on the right hand side of the middle aisle...second row...right behind the pastor and his wife. You were seated to their right, and dressed in the most beautiful white dress, with a swing coat with what looked like white diamonds embedded in it. We hugged them, we hugged you, and joined everyone greeting one another. Worship started out of the fellowship! This is what I mean!:
The fellowship was so pure, and the greetings and embraces were so deliberate and so loving, that it was like a “song” of worship! Not breaking the "flow", the pastor took the pulpit and welcomed the people. Then he turned to the Worship Leader, and nodded, and the worship leader took us straight "there" (straight into the presence of God)!
Then, out of the worship, the pastor called up his wife, and then called you up, and began to anoint you, and celebrate your life’s work and your life’s worth. 🎶What A Time! What A Time! What A Time!🎶 This was a holy moment, and once again, we all were "captured", by HIS presence! I woke up, still caught up in the glory!”❤️
I didn’t realize, then, that the grand celebration would, indeed, be the celebration of my friend’s life…at her home-going! But, it was grand! It was grand, indeed; a two day event!
I wasn’t able to attend, because of an urgent matter; so, I wrote this resolution, in memory of her, and watched with thousands, online.
At her Life Celebration, my resolution was acknowledged, but not read; so, I wanted to share the full resolution with you, Facebook family…for one whose life was…well, you’ll see!
To all of the celebration, honors, and hoopla, Pat would have humbly uttered (in her soft, yet dramatic voice), “Oh my! All this…for me?!?🤭
I realize my posting is late, but processing a “true” friend’s life, takes time…
*** Resolution for my friend, Patricia Elaine Grigsby 12/6/1954 - 6/14/2024 ***
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
The given name, Patricia, means noble, unbending. (Virtue in the above scripture means conformity (or agreement) to a standard of right, or moral character…unwavering …unbending!) Pat (as I lovingly called her!) NEVER wavered in her standard of Holiness! To get her to venture from it, would remain a “hard” NO! She had paid too high a price, to live holy; yet, this was her reasonable service!
The name Patricia also conveys a sense of elegance, strength, and leadership. We all know that Pat loved to “represent” well. She was always…ALWAYS impeccably dressed, from head to toe! And she was definitely a leader, forging many new pathways…new trails…gaining new territories, for her God.
The given middle name, Elaine, means sun-ray, bright, shining light; and friendly and congenial. It also means God has answered my prayer. Elaine had both a friendly and congenial personality. Resolute that God answered prayer, her light shined brightly; and her desire was to always live peaceably and harmoniously with everyone.
The surname, Grigsby, means to be awake and watchful. In other words, it means to be a watchman or guard. Pat was a guard in the House of God, making sure it remained holy and untainted. “For without holiness…” you know the rest.
Pat and I met in 1994. I always greeted my friend as Pat Grigsby, with a “G”; and I was Melessa Brown, without the “E”. We would always laugh about this for a long time, before beginning our NEVER ending conversation; for we would simply pause, and then continue from that point, in our next conversation.
Pat & I had walked similar paths: We had both grown up, singing in church choirs. We were worship leaders. We had battled similar illnesses. We shared our journey, our joys, our sorrows, and our victories. Pat was a trustworthy confident! We shared our love for God and his church; and we held one another accountable for the great “grace-gifts” that had been given us. We understood Proverbs 27:17…”Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”
Some people spoke in tongues; but, Pat and I spoke in hymns! Always encouraging one another, she would often text, or call and say something like, “Melessa, ‘I serve a great Savior, I do. Don’t you? I live by his favor, I do. Don’t you? For grace, I implore him. I worship before him. I love, and adore him. I do. Don’t you?’”
I would respond, in like manner, with something like, “Pat, ‘I want him to use me, I do. Don’t you? For service to choose me, I do. Don’t you? I want him to bless me. To own and confess me. Completely possess me! I do. Don’t you?’”
She might call up another hymn, “‘Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him. How I’ve proved him o’er and o’er. Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus. Oh for grace, to trust him more’”
Then, I might respond with, “You know… ‘He brought me out of the miry clay. He set my feet on the rock to stay. He puts a song in my heart, today! It’s a song of praise, Hallelujah!’”
She might text back and say, “‘Pardon for sin, and a peace that endureth. Thine own dear presence, to cheer and to guide. Strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow. Blessings all mine, with 10,000 beside.’”
I would text back something like, “You know what? ‘His oath, his covenant, his blood, supports me in the 'whelming flood. When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay. On Christ the solid rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand; All other ground is sinking sand.’”
By then, we were both shouting, and worshiping God! We would laugh, and our temporary discouragement and/or frustration over..whatever, would have dissipated, as we enjoyed a time of worship, together!
Pat loved the Lord’s church. She lived for the Lord’s church. And she gave her life for the Lord’s church.
Proverbs 22:1 says, “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.” Pat had both a good name, and loving favor.
Ecclesiastes 7:1b, says that day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth. “Pat, we celebrate your day of death!”
Now! Be it resolved that:
God sovereignly chose to call Patricia Elaine Grigsby home on Wednesday, June 15, 2024.
Be it resolved that:
As these words of scripture, found in St. John 14:27, were to bring comfort to the disciples, they will also bring comfort to us: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Be it resolved that:
That just as God has made us one…one family in Christ, we are here to help remember “her story”, when others forget. We will help carry on the legacy that Pat Grigsby meticulously handcrafted, into the very “fabric” of our beings.
Be it resolved, Pat:
That all of us who knew you and loved you deeply and sincerely, will truly miss your lovely voice, your gifting, your talent, your creativity, your laughter, your kindness, your generosity, your strength, your continual words of encouragement, your commitment, your boldness, your “iron” to sharpen us, your brilliance, your “universal” appeal, and your love for fashion and shoes!
Be it resolved that:
Pat Elaine Grigsby has now been released from this life. She has been released from any and all sickness and pain. She has been released from the flesh that once held her back from doing all that she needed to do; all that she wanted to do; and all that she was created to do. She is now free to do much, much more than she ever could…being tied down by her earthly “suit”; for, she has now joined that great “cloud of witnesses”, who ever cheer us on, from the bleachers of heaven!
And finally, be it resolved that:
The great hope of Christianity, is that when we, too, have completed this course, and kept the faith, and this life has taken off mortality and put on immortality, that we will see Pat, and that great Family Host, again, and be able to rejoice forever more….in one another’s presence!
In Christ, we live and move, and have our being!
Apostle Dr. Melessa A. Brown, ThD(SM)
CEO, Chenaniah Ministries, Cincinnati Ohio
"Until we meet again, my friend!”
