The Passing of a Hero of Faith

I found out this morning that yesterday my Aunt Terecia (my dad's oldest sister) passed away. That was bittersweet news. Sweet because she has been battling cancer for several years and her body was worn and weary and she has been ready to go home to the Father for a while now. Bitter because of the pain that her absence will cause in the lives of those who love her, especially her husband, Uncle Doyle. Aunt Terecia and Uncle Doyle are some of my personal heros of faith. My time with them was always limited to visiting at the biennial family reunion or short visits in their home but that was enough time for me to get the impression that their faith in God was the most important thing in their lives. When I picture their faces in my mind, I see them singing praises to the Lord with a look of love, joy and peace. My favorite memories of them are the times I was privileged to worship with them.

My parents went to visit Aunt Terecia in her home a few weeks ago and while they were there, I got to talk to her and Uncle Doyle on Skype. I appreciated that so much, in just that little time despite her physical discomfort, she had words of encouragement for me in this work we are doing. I am so thankful to God that He gave me one last opportunity to connect with her in this life and I know my next reunion with her will be even better.

On a selfish note, a lot of the family will be gathering in Panhandle, Texas this weekend for her funeral, and I am very sad to have to miss that time together. I would love to be able to join in Cousin's Chorus to sing songs of praise at her memorial as a tribute to her and as an encouragement to Uncle Doyle but I will be with my family in spirit. I know Aunt Terecia and Uncle Doyle support the work I am doing and they wouldn't want me to leave my work to go to her funeral.

One thing that God has been teaching me over the last several years is to stop trying to possess everything and just try to enjoy the things of this life without having to own or horde them. Not too long ago I realized that goes for people too. We can love, admire, appreciate and enjoy people for whatever time we have with them, whether that is 2 minutes in a taxi or 50 years of marriage and when that person is not present in our lives, that doesn't change the love, admiration, appreciation and joy or diminish the importance of the relationship. Instead of focusing on the time we don't have together, we must just be thankful for the time we were together. I think the loss of Aunt Terecia will be an experience that God will use to help me continue to learn this lesson. And how fitting that in death, just as in life, she is teaching me how to grow more like Christ.

"Don't be greedy for the good things of this life, for that is idolatry." Colossians 3:5b