Friday, August 03, 2007

Uncle Bill


Uncle Bill, Meme, Mom-mom, and yours truly, circa 1971.

Today, my favorite uncle is spending his first day in Heaven. He is no longer in pain and he can breathe without struggling. He is visiting with his mother (Mom-mom above), his father, his wife, and a host of friends and family who have gone on before him. What I am happiest about, however, for him, is that he is now in the presence of Jesus. He has seen Him face to face. He knows things for sure that we can only speculate about. I wonder if he has met Abraham or Paul yet. I now consider him part of my own personal "great cloud of witnesses" that I have.

I will miss him, but I am simply being selfish. I know for sure that he would never even consider returning to walk among us, when he can walk among the saints of God.

Pray for his family who will grieve their loss.

3 comments:

Monk-in-Training said...

I hope you don't mind me offering a prayer from my own tradition for your uncle Bill. My own Aunt Lois died last week.

Depart, O Christian soul, out of this world;
In the Name of God the Father Almighty Who created you;
In the Name of Jesus Christ Who redeemed you;
In the Name of the Holy Spirit Who sanctifies you.

May your rest be this day in peace,
and your dwelling place in the Paradise of God.

Into Your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend Your servant Bill. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech You, a sheep of Your own fold, a lamb of Your own flock, a sinner of Your own redeeming. Receive him into the arms of Your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.

Fidelium animae † per misericordiam Dei requiescant in pace.
May the souls † of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Melissa said...

Rick so sorry to hear about the passing of your uncle.

You and your family will be in our thoughts,

Melissa and fam....

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry so to hear about the loss of your favorite uncle. You have a lot to be thinking about right now. You are in my prayers, Friend. (non-anonymous...but I'm just figuring out how to do this!)