Uncle Jimmy

My Dad's friend, whom i've always known as Uncle Jimmy passed away on Thursday Morning.
Although he's not quite considered my direct friend since he's my father's friend, i felt a loss when he passed away because I've known him since young and he's one of those uncles that watched me grow up. I saw him stand by my father, supporting, caring, and warring for my dad and i've really come to love having him around.

Its really sad that he passed away so soon.
But I thank God that he is with the Lord, and that he's led a victorious life.

I just want to share a little something about what the Dewers and the South Mins people came together last christmas to bless him, because it really shows how much God loves Uncle Jimmy. And im still left in awe and wonder everytime i think about it.

The sweetest song Ive ever sung was not today, nor yesterday, nor the day before.But it was on Christmas eve.

On the evening of christmas eve, My family and I, together with a group of friends, went down to visit my dad's friend who had cancer. WE wanted to bless him by singing a group of carols. And its really amazing how things worked out. It was so evident that the Lord really loves him.

This particular person is Uncle Jimmy. Everyone calls him my dad's armour bearer because he has been like the armour bearer for my father. Always supporting him in everyway he can. And he has led a great and victorious life for the Lord, and the Lord has used this little event to bless uncle Jimmy. This is what happened:

My dad wanted to do something to bless uncle Jimmy. So he got together a few old and close friends to get together to help do this for uncle Jimmy. From a group of about 10, a group of about 30 people went to bless him.

My dad needed christmas carol lyrics for everyone so that we may all be able to bless him with this event. But he had juts returned the carol sheets used in Island Wide Christmas party back to church and hence, had none left for us to use. This got him worried for quite some time. But yet, i saw the faith my father had that God would provide. Up till the day before the event, my dad still couldnt find any source of lyrics for us to use. Just as we were about to find from the internet and print it out, my dad found a whole set of about 70 carol sheets lying at a corner of the room, recently dug out whilst clearing his room. He took it, and there it was- Our source of lyrics.

The lyrics had been brought all the way back from Canada. And it had been kept away till he took it out recently, w/o the plans of singing carols for Uncle Jimmy. It was amazing how God had prevented my dad from throwing away the lyrics. but keeping and preserving it and even causing my dad to take them out just when they were needed. Indeed, God was using these little ways to provide the blessing for uncle jimmy.

To cut the story short, my mum was able to find someone to sponsor food for refreshments for the ppl going. It was quite amazing. My dad had also been spending some time to look for ppl to play music for us to sing to. I did offer, but my dad wasnt quite satisfied that i could only play in G. Then, someone offered her son to go, and her son brought someone from CM to come play for us. And on that day itself, we had not 1, but 2 professionals playing for us. God provided once again.

So we went on that fateful christmas eve to uncle jimmy's house. My dad had asked me to do a solo of silent night during the event. I agreed. And after about only 2 rounds of practice at the void deck, we went to his place to bless him.

As we started to sing the carols, i sensed a great presence of God in that place. In fact, i felt that it wasnt just us that were singing the carols, but a whole chorus of angels were there to sing along. I couldnt see them physically obviously, but i could somehow sense and know that they were there. I could hear them sing for suddenly, the music and the chorals were so majestic, so powerful, so amazing.

Just before it came to my turn, i took the opportunity to clear my throat and talk to God. For once in my life, i cried out to God to use my voice to bless uncle Jimmy and Aunty Margaret. I seeked not my own recognition nor my fame. But i wholeheartedly wanted the best to bless the couple. I wanted the best i could give so that they would be blessed. And when i realised that, i realised that i had broken free of the pride i once held. I no longer became about me. It became about them. It became about doing the best for someone else. It became me asking God to bless me so i could bless someone else. I was prepared.

So i stepped out and did my best. My voice was the best i could have ever given and my instincts guided the way. In fact, it became easier to sing the entire song. It wasnt as rough as it had been just before. I know that they were blessed by that simple offering i gave. It was the sweetest song ive ever sung.

I consider it the sweetest as God had used my voice to minister and to bless. And that is enough. Thats what happens when i give my talents to God and let him use it in his own way. He uses it to bless others. He uses it to bless me.The sweetest song I'll sing is when i leave my voice in total surrender for the use of God. And God makes it beautiful when he uses it for his glory. :)