Today’s post is extra special because it’s dedicated to my Uncle Terry. He passed away earlier this year and because today would have been his 56th birthday, I’ve been thinking about him quite a lot.
Even though he’s no longer with us, he definitely left a major impact on my life and I wanted to take the time to share 5 things I learned from him. Hopefully, the lessons he taught me will encourage and inspire you too. So let’s get into the first lesson, shall we?
Lesson #1 – Laugh often
Uncle Terry was always up for a good laugh. If he wasn’t laughing himself, then he was making somebody else laugh with the things he said or did. He taught me not to take life so seriously all the time – that it’s good (and extremely healthy) to laugh and to laugh often. Laughter keeps the stress down and life is too short not to find something to chuckle about.
Lesson #2 Go to Church
Growing up Uncle Terry spent most of his life in facilities and nursing homes, but whenever he got the chance to come home and spend a few days with the family, one of the first things he wanted to do was go to church. He loved being around people and hearing everyone sing along to old hymns. He loved listening to the preacher (and sometimes even trying to preach himself). Whenever a church visited the nursing home, he couldn’t wait to go to the service. He taught me the importance of assembling with other believers – no matter what shape you’re in.
Lesson #3 – Never let the Hardships Weigh You Down
Uncle Terry was someone who had many ailments to deal with in his life – he was a really bad diabetic and he even lost the ability to walk so he spent a large portion of his life confined to a wheelchair – but he never seemed to let his disabilities or limitations get him down. I never saw him depressed or sad because his health wasn’t the best or because his body wouldn’t cooperate. I never heard him complain about all of the shots he had to endure or all the medicine he had to take. He had this remarkable ability to just roll with the punches – and that’s one of the greatest lessons he ever taught me – to never let my limitations or trials weigh me down – to roll with the punches and press on.
Lesson #4 – Never Lose that Child-like Wonder
Out of all of the members of my family, Uncle Terry was the one who loved celebrating the most. He loved every holiday and having the house decorated for all of them. He loved birthdays (especially his own) and doing all the festive things that come with celebrating. We’d have to throw him a birthday party every year and have cake and ice cream and, of course, presents. And at Christmas time, he loved opening gifts and popping fireworks and being surrounded by family and friends. His excitement for the holidays made the holidays all that more exciting for our family and that’s something I’m going to really miss at holiday time. So the lesson he taught me is to never lose that child-like wonder of celebrating or looking forward to something – no matter how old you get. Because while this life can be full of struggles, it’s also full of things to celebrate.
Lesson #5- Love Your Family Well
The best thing Uncle Terry taught me was to love my family well. He loved his family dearly and we loved him too – we still do – and he was not afraid to express or show his love. He was always up for a big hug and he’d always tell us he loved us and that he was praying for us. He taught me that love is unconditional and that when we truly love someone nothing – not death or time or distance – can break that bond. So don’t let this life pass you by – if you love someone tell them and show them you do, because life is short and love never fails.
Happy Birthday, Uncle Terry! Hope you’re having a great one.
Verse of the Day: My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. – 1 John 3:18
