A Legacy Of Love

One of the greatest commandments that God has given us is to Love.
We are called to love Him, love our family and to love others.

 As I sit down to write these words, most of my family is gathered together at an ICU in Minnesota. Today is the day that the hospital vigil that has taken place for the past week will sadly come to an end.

My uncle George has been in a coma since his antique car unexplainably fell off its jacks while he was working on it and he went without oxygen for an undetermined amount of time last week. One of the most gut-wrenching decisions we might ever have to make has fallen to his wife and children. They have decided to stop the respirator later today and to let George comfortably enter into heaven.  As followers of Christ, we can and should take comfort in knowing without a doubt that George will find his way to heaven. We should grieve differently because we know he has been met with open arms by our God and Savior.

George loved God!

His prayer life was a priority. He raised his children up to love and lean on God as well. George spoke with me in the past about how God is the Great Provider and how He alone can comfort and provide strength in times of need. We’ve all experienced trials and times of uncertainty in our lives and George and his family have shown us all how to trust in God and to lean on Him. Because of his relationship with God, George was filled with a sense of joy that didn’t depend on his circumstances. Joy just bubbled out of him.

He is an amazing example to us all.

George loved his family!

There is absolutely no doubt that after loving God, George always put his family in a spot of high importance. His immediate family and his extended family can attest to this. There wasn’t a time when any of us needed help with a project that George wouldn’t find the opportunity to lend a helping hand or give his input. I imagine most of our vehicles and homes have been touched by George’s hands in one way or another. George was a hugger. I don’t remember a time that we ever said a goodbye that wasn’t followed up with an embrace and an, “I love you.”He and his family have overcome many obstacles over the years, but they’ve done so together and are stronger because of it. We’ve depended on George throughout the years to be our leader in many ways.

George is a fine example of what a husband, father, grandfather, son, brother and uncle should be.

George loved others!

George thrived on being with people. Anyone who knew him has been subjected to his warped sense of humor, all of his crazy jokes and one liners. He made sure we were reminded to not take life too seriously. He strove to bring joy to others. He took time to care for people, whether it was a call, going out to dinner or helping with a project, George helped others by giving us his time and talents. We have all been blessed by his unconditional love.

George is a true example of what a friend should look like.

I believe we are all supposed to learn something from this time of loss and grief in order to bring a sense of purpose and meaning. I believe we all should take George’s lead and make love a priority in our lives. We must learn to love God, Love Family and Love Others and we must strive to do it better each day. George would love to see relationships healed. He would love to see forgiveness extended to others. He would love to see an increased sense of unity among his friends and family. And I believe he would love nothing more than to see someone lean on God a little more.

So, as we grieve, shed tears of sadness and are overcome with loss we need to remember the one thing that George did with exceptional excellence…

George loved well!