My mother’s brother recently passed away after being diagnosed with Covid and developing pneumonia. He was 81, and thankfully, he was a Christian. I will see him again.
The day after he passed away, I went to visit my mom. During our visit, she shared that my aunt wanted to give an opportunity for family and friends to share a personal memory at the funeral.
Mom expressed it would be too emotional for her to speak but perhaps I would have the strength to honor her brother. Since I had spent little time with my uncle since high school and some of my memories weren’t exactly treasured, I hesitated to volunteer.
On my drive home, I began to open my heart to God. There was a tension between wanting to honor my mother and feeling awkward about sharing a personal memory with an uncle I hadn’t spent much time with in years.
In the following moments, a memory of my Uncle Jerry scrolled through my mind.
I recalled a time my extended family was gathered at my grandmother’s house on a Sunday afternoon. This particular day, I passionately shared with my predominately blue-collar family, my desire to go to college. That day, a bold 15-year-old, passionately declared her calling to pursue a career as a social worker. I was going to be a world changer!
Imagine the “world changer’s” shattered moment, when my uncle piped up in front of the entire family and said, “The only reason people want to go to college is to smoke that wacky weed.“
I remembered Uncle Jerry’s words verbatim, but before my heart began to relive the sting of that experience, the Lord did a spectacular thing. He brought a word of truth to my mind, which opened my heart to a greater depth of love.
I heard, “Every detail of your life works together for good. I used that experience to teach you how to persevere and forgive through personal hurts;” God’s words impacted me greatly. I am learning to trust the process while yielding to the living God. He is always empowering our hearts with His redeeming love! Always!
Well, the day of the funeral (December 18, 2020) came and when the pastor asked if anyone would like to say a few words, I was the first to go forward. I did not step to the podium and release a sappy story about my uncle. I simply spoke out the memory the Lord had shown me from His perspective. My family filled the room with laughter and tears. Many heads were nodding in affirmation and I sensed an awakening in the room. My spiritual eyes were opened and at that moment, I stood in a cloud of purity. The honesty felt like a warm breeze. I found appreciation for my uncle's uniqueness. I gazed upon his wife of 63 years, knowing Uncle Jerry was a faithful man. A good man. A vessel of the highest God.
Do you have memories that need to be wrapped in truth? Consider taking time this week to ask God to wrap truth around your tension.
“So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together to fit into God’s perfect plan of bringing good into our lives, for we are his lovers who have been called to fulfill his designed purpose.”
Romans 8:28 TPT
“But that’s not all! Even in times of trouble, we have a joyful confidence, knowing that our pressures will develop in our patient endurance. And patient endurance will refine our character, and proven character leads us back to hope. And this hope is not a disappointing fantasy, because we can now experience the endless love of God cascading into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who lives in us!”
Romans 5:3-5 TPT