Our sweet Uncle John went to be with Jesus last week. As I watched rows and rows of people file into vistitation and heard the multitudes speak of the lives he so dearly touched I was overwhelmed at how loved he was...And how blessed we were to call him our family. We will cherish our memories of John for our lifetimes, until we are with him again. I am at a loss of what to say to express how missed he will be, So I will share with you Rainer's words from the service:
"Today we are here to celebrate John’s life, and all the great memories we have of him. It is truly a blessing, and nothing short of miraculous, that he lived for 60 wonderful years. Thank you, all of you, for the part you played in bringing him so much joy and happiness throughout the years.
John was like a thread, woven through many different lives, intertwined with so many people in so many social circles. Throughout various cities, and reaching across several generations, everyone knew John. And John knew everyone.
He loved Alabama football, Texas swimming, his endless schedule of activities, The Park, as he simply put it, his countless friends, his family, and more than anything, his Lord and Savior, Jesus. Growing up with John taught me a lot of things, and shaped me as a person, and as I reflect back on his life, I think of him as a perfect picture of grace.
From the day John was born, he was a gift to this world. To say he was special, while applicable in many regards, would be greatly understating the obvious. He was precious, and in many ways, pure; filled with unconditional and unbridled love that is often times only found in children. He was a child at heart.
While we are saddened by his death, I cannot stand before you today and say that I am discouraged by it. Instead, I am rejoicing that he is Home, in heaven with his momma, and most importantly, his Lord. No longer will his hips hurt from a long night of dancing, nor will his speech be hindered or hard to understand. As Isaiah 40 tells us, “those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” John’s body and mind are fully restored, made new by the One who loved him even more than all of us could collectively.
So as we celebrate John’s life today, and rejoice in his homecoming, some of you might ask what you can do to best remember John, how can you honor his life. My answer to you is simple: Love Jesus. I believe that above all else the gift He would want you all to receive would be eternity in Heaven through a life-giving relationship with Christ. If it were John up here now, he would certainly say “ I take a prayer for you…”
John probably could not grasp the full depth of his own salvation, but there is no doubt that he was an instrument of God. If you knew John, then you saw a glimpse of the mighty love that Christ has for each of us. I pray that knowing John has stirred in you a desire to find the same joy that can only come from experiencing the peace of walking with the Lord. I hope that someday each and every one of you will see him again, and we will all join him, as we dance together for eternity.
We love you John, and we will miss you."
