Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read: Excerpt Tour: Bringing Up Mother by Beverley Johnson

Monday, August 1, 2022

Excerpt Tour: Bringing Up Mother by Beverley Johnson

BRINGING UP MOTHER

by Beverley Johnson

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GENRE: Religious Memoir

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BLURB:

Beverley learns about God in Kindergarten and invites Him to come to Jamaica and give her her own Bible story. She goes home each day and waits at her gate for Him to show up. Will He show up, and will she be ready for her story if and when He does?

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EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT

It was around six o’clock in the morning when something woke me suddenly from my sleep. It was the strong presence of The Man—in the room—again. Cussing under my breath, I yanked the sheet off my head. Instinctively, my eyes were drawn, as if by magnets, in the direction of my feet, where I felt, or rather sensed, His presence. Instead of the usual empty space, I saw tiny fragments of light shimmering in the space between my sister’s bed and mine. Fascinated, I remained transfixed, eyes wide open, wondering what those dancing lights could be. I stared in amazement as the lights slowly began to coalesce into the shape of—

“Jesus!” I shouted.

Smiling, Jesus put His index finger to His lips, as if to say, “Shh.”

I looked across the room and saw my sister still sleeping on her bed. Her bed was perpendicular to mine, forming an L-shape. Jesus was standing between both beds, at the side of mine and the foot of hers. He was wearing clothing from His time period on Earth, dark reddish-orange sash draped over a cream-coloured garment.

I lowered my voice. “Jesus, are you really here? In my room?”

I looked at Him standing there, smiling at me, as if to say, “See for yourself.”

It was too good to be true.

“Nice dream,” I said to Jesus and myself, as I pulled the sheet over my head to go back to sleep. I removed the sheets again to take another look.

Jesus was still standing there, waiting patiently for me.

“You’re still here? Is this really happening? Jesus, is it really you?”

He moved from my feet toward my face and stopped in the middle of the room, where there was more space. He held out His hands for me to see the holes where the nails had pierced them.

“Oh, you didn’t have to do that. I know it’s you. It’s just that nothing good ever happens to me,” I said.

I knew it was Jesus. His eyes radiated so much love and warmth. There was so much love and peace—joy even—in the room. I saw love. I felt love. Overwhelming love. I just knew it was Jesus. I was having a hard time believing He was there, with me! Out of the Bible, down from Heaven. It was the me part that I was having a problem with.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Beverley was born and raised in the rural parish of Clarendon, Jamaica, where she attended the Content United Brethren Church and its Basic (Kindergarten) school, better known as Sister Betty's school. Growing up, she attended York Town Primary and Denbigh Junior Secondary school, now Denbigh High School. She migrated to Toronto, Canada, as a young adult. A graduate of the University of Toronto and OISE, she is an Elementary teacher by profession, and also a Sunday school teacher. She enjoys reading, writing, travelling and working with children.

CONNECT WITH Beverley Johnson

WEBSITE - Beverley Johnson – Author

FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/Beverley-Johnson-Author-112083488170185

GOODREADS - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22483917.Beverley_Johnson

PURCHASE LINKS Bringing Up Mother

AMAZON.COM - https://amazon.com/dp/022886853X

AMAZON.CA - https://amazon.ca/dp/022886853X

AMAZON KINDLE - https://amazon.com/dp/B09XZ6S1RF

INDIGO CHAPTERS - https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/bringing-up-mother/9780228868514-item.html

BARNES & NOBLE - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bringing-up-mother-beverley-johnson/1141360581

BOOK DEPOSITORY - https://www.bookdepository.com/Bringing-up-Mother-Beverley-Johnson/9780228868538

APPLE IBOOKS - https://books.apple.com/us/book/bringing-up-mother/id1619561366