Wednesday, January 9, 2013

remembering...

Thomas Arthur was born to my Aunt Helen and Uncle Al on March 29, 1959...joining his twin brother Timothy and older siblings Robert, Daniel, Paul, James, and Ruth. Though his twin was robust and healthy, Thomas was listless and arrived with severe disabilities.  After being cared for by his parents in their home for many years, Thomas lived out his life in a facility that could better meet his physical needs.  He passed away on January 2, 2012 and is being buried today in Kelowna.  He is survived by three siblings. I wish I could be there for them today.  Theirs is a family that has been through much hardship and pain and sadness over the years.


My cousin Robert was a year older than I was.  By the time his twin brothers arrived, he was eight years old and my aunt had seven children to care for.  Wow!  I can't even imagine.  They lived in distant places at that time, and so we never got to know those cousins real well.  Eventually they moved to my home town, and Robert attended the local high school with me.  We were in the same Chemistry class and sat next to each other.  We chatted off and on...though I think  he mostly listened and I chatted.  He was quiet, good-looking and wore an easy smile.  It was during those years that tragedy struck their family...not once, but many times.  Timothy was throwing rocks with friends in a local rock quarry and fell to his death as he plunged over a cliff.  He was about 10 years old at the time.  James was pedaling a bike along a city street, and was struck by a passing vehicle.  He never totally recovered from his injuries.  When Robert was in his early twenties, he was in a motor vehicle accident involving a train.  Both he and his girlfriend were killed.

I can not even imagine what my uncle and aunt went through.  Uncle Al was later diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease...my aunt was there for him to the end.  Daniel passed away suddenly at the age of 50....and several years later my aunt reached the end of her earthly life. We went to her funeral...a wonderful tribute to a lady who endured much pain and hardship.  We know she is now free of all pain and suffering now. No more tears...no more sadness.

 
As for Thomas...today he is with all those from his family who have gone before.  His body is now perfect...and he is 'walking and leaping and praising God'.  For Paul, Ruth and James there is sadness as they once again bury a loved one.  Though I am unable to stand with them today, my thoughts and prayers are there.

As I wrote this post, I was reminded that I have much to be thankful for.  Seeing the pain that one family has lived through, puts my problems into perspective.

Posted in loving memory of my cousin Thomas...
 


14 comments:

  1. Judy, my heart aches for you and the remainder of this family that has suffered so many terrible losses over the years. May God fill you and them with His peace and comfort. Blessings to you. Pamela

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  2. Your family is in my prayers during this sad time.

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  3. This is a sad post Judy but one of hope, knowing that there is an eternal life for those of us who know the Lord Jesus. I cant imagine how your aunt and uncle and their family made it through these tragedies,I will be praying for you and your family today.

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  4. Such profound tragedies have followed this family. Your positive words of faith and admiration for their devotion to each other speak well to the goodness of God. It must be great comfort to those who remain to know that family is reunited and that everyone is well and whole. Safely home is always a good place to be.

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  5. That is a lovely tribute about not only Thomas but also about a family who has endured much sadness. It is stories like this that make me wonder where God was glorified in all the sadness and challenges. He must have been though we might never know on earth.

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  6. Praying for your cousins, Judy.

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  7. I wonder why tragedy strikes some families so hard and so often. I can only trust the God who loves us. Your post honours your family, Judy, and our sovereign God.

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  8. My heart feels sadness as I now finished reading this post. How do families endure such hardship? What a huge blessing it is for you and your family to know you will see them again someday, and that they will never again have to go through trials, pain, and tears.

    You sure did a meaningful tribute to your dear aunt and her family.
    My heartfelt sympathies!

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  9. A friend of mine who lost a child at 2 years of age said, "When you are face with this kind of pain, you have to go back to what you know to be true....God is good and He loves me. That's all you have to hold on to." So glad your family knows those truths. Praying for them and you. Lovely post.

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  10. This is truly a tribute of comfort for those left behind. It's difficult to understand tragedy, but it also helps us become more empathic to others as they walk through their hurtful experiences. May God's grace be sufficient to all.

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  11. Huge hugs to you and your extended family Judy! We lost our severely disabled "twin" nephew, Andrew, 1 1/2 yrs. ago. This sounds like such a similar story to my sister's family. Such as these are pure angels and their mute silence speaks loudly how we should be sensitive to each other, to the elderly and the sick, the disabled and the helpless. It's comforting to know that his body is now perfect and that he is with family and God!

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  12. A hard story to read Judy, knowing how little trauma my family has endured while others seemed to have been served up the unthinkable over and over again. Yet God is good all the time and the hardest hit families seem most convinced of that truth. I pray that the family's faith will be unshakeable for generations.

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  13. It is so hard to understand how one family can endure so much, but your loving tribute must be a comfort to those left behind.
    May Thomas rest in peace and may Eternal Light shine on him.

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  14. Oh Judy - how often I have asked myself the question why one family so often has to endure so much. You have written a sensitive and thoughtful tribute to this family.
    Your first picture is stunning - you caught the light just right!

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'The ornament of a house is the friends who frequent it.'
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson