Jeanell Rawles
By Suzanne O'Keeffe, 700 Club Interactive
CBN.com – MEET JEANELL AS TOLD BY HER DAUGHTER SCARLETT
"My mother, Jeanell Rawles is not an ordinary woman. She has the ability to persevere, keep her head high and continues to give of herself no matter what situation is present. She has been a single mother for the last 30 years. She serves her community and city as a Police Officer of 27 years. She is a mother, a grandmother and the primary care giver of my brother Aaron Rawles.
She is a very busy woman and has little time for herself. In addition to the demands of her regular job as an officer she works an extra job for additional income. As the primary care giver of my brother the responsibilities mount at times. I grew up watching her carry the burden of being told he would not live past the age of 18. My brother Aaron is now 39 years old. He has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy which only affects males. He has been on life support for 16 years now. He requires constant assistance. To give you an idea, he can't move a finger or even scratch an itch. He is extremely intelligent and full of personality. He's just trapped inside a body that can't move. When he does not sleep, she does not either. What affects him affects her. Her daily routine is going to work and going straight home. She does not have time for hobbies and does not get to go out and hang with the girls. When she has a nurse on Saturdays she goes to the store and will run errands. Occasionally she meets her sister for lunch or visits a friend. She never complains about what she does not get to do. She gets up every day and does this all over again. There are times when various issues and problems become innumerable and overwhelming. That is when I see her embrace her strength. She rallies everyone she knows for prayer. She has an innate ability to hang on because she knows her answer and solution is right around the corner.
She has a distinct laugh that is contagious and a smile that lights up a room. She is as real as real gets. There is nothing fake about her. If she finds you are in need she will find a way to give. She will love you, cry with you, she will fight for you and will hold your hand. She has an attitude that can straighten a crooked line and a glare that can freeze water. She is tender but bold and does not shrink back in fear, yet in all this she is humble and sees her humanity. I have seen her fall apart and she quickly put herself back together. She sees her weakness and faults but I see her strength and value.
The one thing I hope to see of her one day is for her to write a book. She has a gift for writing. She has the ability to allow her heart to be the ink that pours through a pen. I believe there is even more glory in her to be revealed! There is a bigger picture yet! There are altitudes of greatness in her!
My mom is amazing. I don't know many people who could do what she does. She says all the time that God will not put more on you than you can handle! She has taught me how to stand. She has shown me identity and situations are two different things. She reminds me to live life to the fullest where ever you are. "Live, Love & Laugh" is her motto. Each breath, each day is a gift and the people in her life are her treasures. I am honored to know her, and to know that I am of her."
SCARLETT MALONE
Scarlett Malone is the daughter of Jeanell Rawles and entered her mother in the 700 Club Interactive Mother's Day Contest. She lives in the Mobile area near her mother and shares in her love of fishing. Scarlett also has a love of music and sings on her worship team at church. Scarlett has been married for twenty years and has two children.