In this post I would like to honor my uncle Gerald who recently passed away in November, just one month short of his 85th birthday.
He was born on Christmas Day in 1939 and was the younger brother and only sibling of my father.
My husband and I were in Louisiana visiting family for Thanksgiving and for a quick getaway.
While in New Orleans, I received a call from one of my cousin’s wives who told me he was in the hospital and the doctors said he was not going to last long. He passed a couple of hours later, but…
I am happy to say that I know he is with our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.
The day he died, he made a call to my father and spoke with him and my mother. My dad said he was in good spirits and told him that he had a good report from the doctor—he was cancer free and had received his last round of treatment. He was making plans to drive down to my parents’ home to go out for lunch and then start traveling again.
Growing up we lived two hours apart, so we did not spend a lot of time together, but we did make an effort to get together during the holidays.
The last time I saw him alive was the previous year (2023) during the Christmas holidays. We took my parents to see him and visit with him and my cousins. It was a good reunion where we talked about growing up and remembering many funny things we did at our grandparents when we were kids. We had some laughs and did some catching up.
As we were about to return to my parents’ home, my uncle looked at me and said, “Carmen, please pray for me.” I told him I would and I prayed for him then and throughout the year of 2024.
I knew he was concerned about his health, because he had cancer and some other health issues, but he still looked good and strong to me.
After he went to be with the LORD, we took my parents to his viewing and I spoke to my cousin who found him unconscious at home and had him rushed to the hospital the day he died.
It was so touching to find out that uncle Gerald was in his chair at his desk going over his Bible study lesson for the upcoming Sunday.
May I be doing the same when the LORD calls me home!
In fact, may I do many of the things that my uncle Gerald did while he was alive!
These are the memories that I have of him:
He loved the LORD and he loved his family.
We may not have seen each other often, but I do know how he acted when he was around us.
He was a humble man.
He was not self-centered. He never talked about his accomplishments, his wants, his rights.
I never heard him complain, although I am sure he had reason to at times.
He often played with us as children out in my grandparents’ yard, just like my dear grandfather.
He was not focused on being a millionaire, instead he was focused on being a provider for his family and having a loving relationship with his wife, children (five sons), and other family members.
He worked at the same place of business for 42 years until he retired.
I never saw him argue with anyone, never saw him swear.
He was not judgmental and he never talked down to anyone.
One of my cousin’s wives who lived near him said, “I’ve never heard him say a bad word about anyone. He always found the good in them.”
He exemplified Jesus!
He was able to laugh at himself and laugh at funny memories that he and my dad had of their childhood.
He was respectful to us (nieces, nephews) as grownups and was genuinely interested in our lives as we moved out on our own, got married, had children, and shared our experiences with him.
He loved to travel. I had to ask my cousins for help on this one as I wasn’t sure of all the places he visited. I was informed that he had been to most all the 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii. He also traveled to Egypt, Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, and missed out on Israel due to Covid shutting things down.
He served in the church he attended for 60+ years. He was a Bible Study teacher for most of those years until he became ill, and he also served as a deacon.
When he retired, he looked for even more opportunities to serve others. When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, he went down with his church a few times to serve food to the people who were devastated. He also volunteered in Alabama when they were hit with multiple tornadoes in 2011.
When his wife, my aunt Billie, passed a few years earlier, he did not become angry, bitter, or reclusive. He continued to live his life for the LORD and continued his relationship with his children, their wives, his grandchildren, and other family members.
For me, my uncle Gerald was a good example of how to live life for God and for others. He simply gave of himself until his last breath on this earth.
I am sure that he heard those words that all of God’s servants long to hear when they graduate to heaven to be with the LORD for eternity—“Well done, my good and faithful servant.”
I want to share one scripture verse with you of how God wants us to live our lives.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2
Thank you, Uncle Gerald, for showing me and many others that it is possible to live a life according to God’s will.
May we all do the same.
I hope you enjoy this beautiful song I have included for your listening pleasure.
“Well Done” – The Afters
The Goodness of God 