Tribute to My Fourth Brother

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that Day.”  2 Timothy 4:7-8

I grew up in a family with three brothers and a sister.  We were part of the church family at Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church.  It was in this church, I gained a fourth brother, Carl.  He had been adopted by Glen and Cecil who were members of the church, but more importantly, he was adopted into my family because of our shared love for Jesus.  Carl loved and respected my mom and dad which endeared me even more to him.  He treated my parents like his own who in turned loved Carl, too.

God blessed Carl with the gift of music.  He had a beautiful baritone voice and the Spirit of God flowed from his fingers as he played the piano.  When my dad was dying in the hospital, Carl came and sang the old hymns of faith as my siblings, my mom, and Carl gathered around his bed.  We sang my dad into heaven.  Carl sang at my parents’ anniversary party and their funerals.  When Carl sang, it was not just words and notes, but it was the presence of God being expressed in the song.  

Carl recently died and his funeral was this past week.  The service was truly a celebration of his life and his love for Jesus.  If you met Carl on the street, within minutes he was telling his story about Jesus and how Jesus saved him.  He shared Jesus with anyone who would listen, because he wanted everyone to know the love of Jesus in their hearts.  Carl’s smile was contagious and oh, his laughter.  It came from deep within him and spilled out all over you.  You became filled with joy just because you were in his presence.  Carl was a storyteller and oh, the stories he would tell.

When I heard that Carl had died, I was sad for me and all those he loved, but I was so happy for Carl.  He was now in the presence of the One he loved the most, Jesus.  Carl was more alive now than he had ever been.  He had given his life for Jesus, and because of what Jesus did for him, Carl was alive in Heaven forever with Jesus.  It brought me peace and joy that I knew Carl had hugged my mom and dad in Heaven.  Carl had fought the good fight of life.  He had finished the race.  Carl had lived his faith completely, and he received his crown in Heaven. Carl’s story was Jesus’s story, and now they are together in Heaven telling the stories.

As I listened to people share how Carl had impacted their lives, I felt a sense of peace and joy that “my brother” made a difference in this world and in my life.  Carl challenged me to share Jesus more directly with others and to tell my story.  He encouraged me to live out my calling in my life.  He always made me smile and enjoy the moments with him.  As I reflect on Carl’s impact, I ask myself how am I allowing Carl’s impact and influence to radiate to others in my life?  When we state that a person has made a difference in our lives, it should be evident to others and to God the person’s impact.  We need to live it out not just make a statement.

As we reflect on our own loved one who is now in Heaven, how are we living out their impact and influence in our daily lives?  They made a difference in our lives and leave a lasting legacy in our hearts.  So, how do others know it is their influence I am sharing?  Sometimes it is as simple as sharing my mom’s recipe.  It is loving a song because Dave loved it.  It is reading my Bible because my Grandma and Mom read their Bibles and lived their lives following God’s Word.  It is telling a story Dave always told. 

When making a decision, I find myself asking, “What would Dave do?”  When dealing with a situation in the family, I ask, “How would Mom have handled this?”  When I see life through the eyes of my loved one, I recognize how they live on in me and in this world.  They continue to influence others because they are a vital part of who we are.  They may not be physically present in this world, but their spirit remains active within us.  When I become aware of those who live on within me, I have hope and the assurance that I am never alone.