‘WHAT MATTERS TO US NOW’
For many of us, the past 14 months have helped us rediscover what’s really important. From focusing on mental health to nurturing relationships, four well-known women share what they’ve learned
Four well-known faces reveal what they’ve learned in troubling times
Faith has always played an important part in my life. When I was four, my parents died in a car crash and I was brought up by my grandmother, who was a member of the local Pentecostal church in Dunstable. I was baptised into the faith when I was 12 and it became my whole life; church every Monday, Bible study every Tuesday, prayer meeting every Wednesday. I was raised that way until I was 18 and, since then, my faith has been a source of hope and healing, strength and optimism. It’s given me something to hold on to in uncertain times, like those we’ve experienced over the past year.
It was at church that I first started singing. I was a member of the Church of God in Christ’s 300-strong gospel choir and, believe it or not, we actually performed on Songs Of Praise! It was an honour to then be asked to present the programme and, when I hosted my first episode earlier this year, it took me right back; I felt at home again. I joined a walking church in east London, with people of all backgrounds, races and nationalities, and it was a powerful reminder that none of our differences matter. Once you have a scripture in front of you, everyone is equal. Everything I try to achieve in life is with my children, Jamal
and Tanisha, in mind. Losing my parents so young has given me a deep appreciation for every milestone in their lives. When I first had my eldest, Jamal, I spent a lot of time thinking, ‘Gosh, I really hope I manage to see him get to his fifth birthday,’ because that’s a milestone that my parents never had. I look forward to things such as Mother’s Day, too, because I didn’t have the chance to give Mother’s Day cards. One of the silver linings of this past year has been spending more time with the children. They’re 30 and 26 now, and have been living at home with me, which
despite the arguments over who is first in the bathroom and who is taking out the bins, has been lovely. I learn so much from them every day. Tanisha was made redundant last year and has been struggling to find another job, but she has this amazing tenacity. She will say, ‘I have applied for 25 jobs today – one of them is bound to stick.’ And they both love the saying, ‘It is not impossible. It is “I’m possible”.’ Six years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer
and it was a wake-up call. I had been going along in life thinking, ‘That is not going to happen to me,’ and it was only by talking to someone whose friend was going through breast cancer that I found the lump in the first place. It made me realise how important sharing things is and that is something I have learned even more recently. If you can say one thing that sticks in somebody’s head and makes them think differently, or act positively, then you have done some good. The pandemic taught me the importance of nurturing
relationships of all kinds. Before the first lockdown, I was doing eight shows a week at the theatre and I barely stopped, which meant my social life was almost null and my relationships suffered. But over the past year, I have come together with my aunts and cousins over Zoom and, last April, a friend of mine started a virtual bingo night; and we are still doing it! There are about 15 different families involved and there is always a different theme: bring a crown or wear a purple scarf. One night, it went on until 2am. I don’t think I will ever take the people who matter to me for granted again.
Songs Of Praise is on every Sunday on BBC One at 1.15pm
‘My faith has given me something to hold on to’ Singer and Songs Of Praise presenter Brenda Edwards has relied on faith, family and friendship through uncertain times.
This past year has taught me to not take the people who matter for granted
One of the silver linings of this past year has been spending more time with the children