We were lucky to catch up with Brianna Barrett recently and have shared our conversation below.

Brianna, appreciate you joining us today. One of our favorite things to hear about is stories around the nicest thing someone has done for someone else – what’s the nicest thing someone has ever done for you?

Over the last month, my dad has been in and out of the hospital due to surgery and complications afterward. It was a lot for my mom and me. It was hard to see the strongest man I knew in a hospital bed, hooked up to machines that were keeping him alive. My prayers in recent weeks haven’t stopped. I prayed without ceasing, as the scriptures instruct us to.

My dad returned home from a 9-day post-op hospital stay, and 36 hours later was taken back to the hospital via ambulance. We all will face difficulties but knowing who is in control will bring you comfort during the hard times. As I followed the ambulance to the hospital, I prayed, not ceasing, because at that moment there was nothing else I could do. I begged God to heal my dad, and for the right medical team to take care of him. A team of people who would figure out what was wrong and help heal him this time. I asked for guidance, direction, and peace for my mom and myself. I asked for comfort for my mom, I knew it was scary for her too.

The diagnosis was quick–blood clots in his lungs. After open heart surgery, you don’t want to be back in the hospital at all, much less hearing a diagnosis like that. The staff started medicine to help break up the clots and began monitoring him to determine the next steps. My mom slept at the hospital beside him, while I went home to take care of the homefront. I would return each day for the early shift. That Saturday morning, I held his hand like I did when I was a little girl, with tears running down my face. I was scared, I knew that God was in control of the situation, I was just afraid of what God’s plan might be.

We were told they would do a procedure on Monday morning to vacuum the clots out. It sounded painful but the doctors felt it was the best course of action. So we waited and waited for the weekend to crawl by. His blood work continued to get worse, so blood transfusions were ordered and we faced more decisions. We all began reading up on the procedure that we hoped would be a quick fix.

Monday morning arrived, and my mom and I were at the hospital before 6 am. My dad was prepped and ready for the procedure. I’d spent the drive over praying that today would go well, I prayed for peace throughout the day.
The first doctor walked in, wished him good luck, and said he would check on us in a few hours. The second doctor walked in to tell us they’d canceled his procedure. At that moment, It felt like the air went out of me. The team of doctors came in and told us the risks far outweighed the benefits. They didn’t think my dad would survive the procedure.

We were devastated. I texted my husband, saying I just didn’t know what to do. It felt like the rug had been pulled out from under us. We sat there staring at each other in the room, trying to make sense of the news. Not long after, my phone dinged with email messages, I quickly scanned through them and saw one was from my website, but I knew I hadn’t sent it. I opened the email thinking I had been hacked, only to find out that my husband had sent an email to my community, asking for prayers for me and my family. He asked that they pray for us and send notes of encouragement because I wouldn’t ask for them myself.

My husband said he was afraid of my reaction. Between my lack of sleep and high emotions, he wasn’t sure what my response would be. Instead of anger or embarrassment, I felt comfort and peace. Throughout the following week, I received prayers, verses, and notes of encouragement from the community of readers of my blog. These friends, many of whom I’ve never met in real life, carried me through the hard moments that week. I felt like the person on the mat whose friends carried him to the roof and lowered him down in front of Jesus in Luke 5:17-39.

This act of kindness truly touched my heart and comforted me when I was at my weakest. The messages were always timed at the right moment. When I was about to let the lies in, I would receive a message and a prayer. It truly was the nicest thing someone had ever done for me. Not only the initial email, but the responses of people who continue to pray for me and my family through this time of healing.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m a Jesus-loving girl from the Carolinas with a camera in my hand. Capturing memories is one of my passions, along with building His Kingdom by telling His story. I write devotionals and articles, and capture as many sunrise/sunset photos as possible. I am a mom to a teenager, who drag races and I ride with him during his races. My husband and I have been married for 17 years and have made a beautiful home in my hometown. We have a family YouTube channel where my son and I are building a car and my guys are teaching me how to do automotive things. My guys are car enthusiasts and spend a lot of time in our home shop. I decided I wanted to be a part of the fun and meet them both where they are in life. My son asked last summer if I would do a mother/son YouTube channel where we worked on a car that he won. I was touched and am thrilled to spend more time with him, and we have tons of fun while filming.

I’m a recovering control freak, learning to abide in the rest of Jesus. I’ve written for many publications including “Faith on Every Corner”, “Our Story Magazine”, “The Christian Journal”, and “Broken but Priceless” where I have a column entitled “A Homemaker’s Heart”. I’m a regular contributor to The Grit and Grace Project, and a freelance co-leader for COMPEL Pro Training. I’ve met the most remarkable people along my journey in writing and have found true joy.

I’m always willing to try a new recipe, especially anything gluten-free. My husband and I make everything from scratch-made tortillas to every sauce imaginable. Two of the most unlikely gardeners have become active contributors to the family garden where we raise and preserve our vegetables.

I’m a firm believer that it takes a village to raise a child and we live next door to my parents, my grandfather, and my brother and his family. We love big and are always happy to make room for more at the table.

I started my website, Briannagrams.com, to help encourage others in their walks with Christ as they navigate chronic illness, parenting, marriage, and caregiving. I want to serve others with an open heart and open arms welcoming all to the table to share in the abundance of love I’ve found in Christ. So much of the world today is negative, and I strive to provide a safe place for people to gather, to find encouragement, and be a friend to chat with and pray with.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I have found my best writing comes from places of adversity and resilience. As a chronic illness thriver (I don’t want to just survive, I want to thrive) there are times of defeat in that journey. At times it’s the doctors, procedures, or medications, and frankly, sometimes we just lose hope in all the problems we face.

I found it hard to tell others about my condition without getting the typical, “Oh my aunt Janie has that and she ate salt, you’ll be fine,” “Isn’t that an old people thing?”, “you don’t look sick.” Those are some of the most hurtful things that can be said to you. The journey in chronic illness is constantly changing, when you wake up you never know if your body is going to cooperate or retaliate. There are so many unknowns. It’s a lot of faith and hope intertwined with a good medical team that listens to you and hears your issues. Through online communities and platforms, I’ve had an opportunity to meet others in similar situations who understand me. So many of us are struggling with hard things and the more we listen to the world the more depressed, stressed, and anxious we become. This is where the idea of briannagrams.com came from. I want this community to be a place of hope and encouragement and when you need prayer, you know I’ll pray.

I’m not in it for the fame and fortune, I am in it to help others and serve Christ.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

I learned several different lessons from my dad as he built a large thriving business, and I’ve incorporated those into my own life and ministry.

You are never too important to clean the bathroom if it needs to be cleaned, to dig if a hole needs to be dug or to be there even if it’s 3 am when the concrete is being poured. Leading by example and showing your team that they matter and you are in it alongside them truly matters. Humility gains respect.

Treat your employees like family. They aren’t a number, they are your people. If you invest in them and their success, they will return that with a good work ethic and quality work.

Learn who your employees are. Find out personal details if they are willing to share. When you see them ask about their families and truly listen to their responses.

The best leader is the one who cares and isn’t afraid of hard work. Dealing with people isn’t always easy, and sometimes people aren’t a good fit. No amount of book smarts will teach you people skills, or showcase your character, and your integrity. Those things speak volumes about you and are the best lessons to learn.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.briannagrams.com
• Instagram: @briannagrams1
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/briannagrams1
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lucky_jack_racing