Blessed Assurance

I have been reminded over the past few weeks of how fleeting life is.  Reminded through the passing of loved ones but also in the celebration of our son growing older. 

Today in Alabama my family is laying my Uncle Gene to rest;  My mother's oldest brother.  I have very few childhood memories that don't include my Uncle Gene.  Growing up he, my aunt Priscilla and my cousin, Chris, would come over EVERY Christmas morning for breakfast, and bearing gifts.  He sat through a decade of 4+ hour dance recitals and brought a bouquet of flowers to every recital.  He let me tag along on a 12 hour car ride to Kansas when my cousin Chris was married.  For college graduation he and my aunt gave me a replica of the piece of luggage they had given my mother at her graduation.  

My uncle was generous, funny, a natural leader in business and in church, and someone who was really easy to like. 

I hate not being with my family today; not being there to honor the life of my wonderful uncle and to be present in the lives of my loved ones.  

Gene Baker...born July 16, 1939, went Home to Jesus February 23, 2011.... Uncle Gene is now completely whole and well sitting with friends and welcomed into Heaven's gates by his mother.... Only God knows the number of our days.  Thank you Father that your ways are always better than those of our own.  Thank you Father for paying the price of our sin so that we may live in your presence eternally.

"There's a peace I've come to know though my heart and flesh may fail.  There's an echo in my soul I can sing, It is well.  Jesus, has overcome and the grave is overwelmed.  The victory is won he is risen from the dead.  I will rise when he calls my name. No more sorrow, No more pain.

I will rise, on eagle's wings before my God fall on my knees, and rise." Chris Tomlin