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Uncle Cec -- Where Have You Gone? By Hector M. Earle Losing someone is difficult, but there is hope.
y uncle 'Cec' was a great inspiration to me. I often think of him and the things he instilled in me as a child. The last time I saw him was at my brother's funeral in Roddickton, Newfoundland, Canada, in April of 2007. He had grown a little feeble and I thought I saw a glaze in his eyes, very unlike the man I knew as a child. I remembered him as a strong man with broad shoulders, big biceps, and, wow, could he saw wood with a bucksaw! As we sat in my sister's living room that day, Uncle Cec was in a reflective mood as we reminisced about all the times he visited me as a child, and the triumphs and tragedies of his life.
"Lost everything that fall," he said. "Everything... and we didn't have much to begin with." But he told me he gained courage from reading in the family Bible about the tragedies of Job and the trials of Paul. He told me how he helped my granddaddy rebuild that spring and how the fish were so plentiful that year. "What goes around comes around," was another of his favourite quotes. I'm convinced that his faith was as solid as the old rock on which his daddy's house was built. Actions speak louder than words
I learned a lot from Uncle Cec. He taught me not so much in what he said but in what he didn't say. The saying, "Actions speak louder than words" was certainly true for my most beloved uncle. It seemed that nothing got him down. I honestly never saw him get discouraged. It seemed he never saw a situation as a problem -- only a challenge that could be overcome. When a situation arose, he would roll up his sleeves and get to it. Uncle Cec was not a wealthy man by any stretch. He saw riches not so much in money as in making people happy. Riches to him were just a good reputation. I never saw him get the blues. Blue to Uncle Cec was just the Atlantic Ocean on a calm sunny day.
That kind of man As we were saying good-bye after my brother's funeral, I thought I saw tears in Uncle Cec's eyes. "I hope to see you again someday," I said.
I nodded in agreement as I shook his hand. Uncle Cec doesn't understand the process of conversion, the steps leading to eternal life in God's Kingdom, and the wonderful world beyond today. But one thing I am certain of -- when God opens up his mind and the plain truth of God's Word is explained to him, he will embrace it. He is just that kind of a man. What a great opportunity it will be for me to explain it to him when we meet in the resurrection. Hang in there, my beloved uncle. Next time, it will be my turn to tell YOU a story -- a different kind of story. For more information on the resurrection request our free booklet, Copyright 2011 by United Church of God, an International Association All rights reserved. |
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