Uncle Jerry
My uncle Jerry died this past week and he was my last living uncle. I was sad from his death, but not due to usual reasons, but from thinking that he wasted his life. He died a drunk alone with no family members at his side. I know that he did not have a realtionship with his only son and that he was divorced from his last wife. My only memories of Uncle Jerry was of him drinking and or being drunk. He was a small man and always had a large beer gut. Just like my other uncle, who died in a gutter drunk, they both seemed to try and drink their lives away. I guess they both finally succeeded.
My brother told me that he thinks Uncle Jerry went to church some before he died, so I take some peace in thinking that he accepted Jesus Christ as his lord and savior and is in heaven. I know that any place
in Heaven is better than the best place here on Earth, so that gives me comfort.
Alcohol has stolen too much from my extended family, I pray that the vicious cycle is broken and the curse is removed.
IF
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!
Rudyard Kipling
The Armor of God - Ephesians 6:10-18
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
in Heaven is better than the best place here on Earth, so that gives me comfort.
I have finally managed to log on
ReplyDeletewow no small feat for a blonde.
I love your title and I know that your awareness is the first step in a direction on a broken family cycle- the good news is that where the ruins are the rebuilding gets to take place.
This si one of my favorites especially when I am bombarded by my past
Isaiah 58: 12
"Those from among you
Shall build the old waste places
You shall raise up the foundations of many generations
And you shall be called the
Repairer of the Breach
The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In"
Hi Sean,
ReplyDeleteGreat messages.
Ilove reading your messages,i am very proud of my little brother. Keep praying for my family and i. The boys dalton and trey are doing fine also. I agree with you on the curse of alcohol that has been a problem in are extended family and mine. If not for the LOVE of JESUS we would be lost.I love you.
ReplyDeleteokay i so left you a comment where is it? Where istodays post? cone on Im a addicted blogger now feed me tell tarah I said hi
ReplyDeleteHey Uncle,
ReplyDeleteNice blogs, I'm proud of you and what a difference I see in you just by reading your posts. I think your relationship with the lord is awesome and I know he's cheering you on. Stay strong and walk by faith and always fight the good fight...
Love ya,
"LIVE FOR NOTHING OR DIE FOR SOMETHING"