Hearing the phone ring at 5am is rarely a sign that someone calling with good news. My mom had called letting our family know that Tío Agustine's heart had failed and he was being held at the hospital on life support. [Tío is Spanish for 'Uncle'] August 28 was a rough day. Uncle Agustine, my mom's brother, went to be with the Lord that afternoon. Losing a family member unexpectedly sends a shock to everyone that was connected to them. As the death of my Tío rocked everyone's world that day, I found myself worshipping and immersing myself in God's presence. It was the only way I could seem to cope with what had just happened. There were tears, lots of tears but ultimately there was a peace that took over when I could not cry anymore.
The next day we started receiving word from family members that were planning on coming to attend the visitation and funeral. [side-note: I am Mexican... so I have a lot of extended family.] My Tío had just discussed with his brother and sister how we needed to have a family reunion. Well, Tío did it, just in a way we didn't expect. Family members flew into Michigan from California and Texas to unite together and grieve the loss of our Uncle and brother but also to rejoice in the fact that he is with God.
Our Tío would walk into a store or a restaurant and come out knowing 10 more people. If you needed something He would bless you with it. He would encourage and speak into your life whenever you were around him. His prayers for our family meals were powerful and full of the anointing. His dreams for our family were BIG!
Yes, he was taken from us too soon but I believe that he sacrificed his life to bring life back into our family. To have cousins reunite that haven't seen each other in 15+ years. To bring siblings back together that haven't seen each other in 6+ years. To bring cousins back together that haven't even met or spoken to each other yet. Each moment throughout this past week with family has brought back life into each and every one of us. The conversations, the meals shared, the laughter and the tears. Each moment was a moment orchestrated by God and by our Tío. We all could lean on each other during a sad time but find joy in building our relationships with one another as familia.
My Tío, the ultimate life giver. An example of unconditional love. A man would walked the straight and narrow road with God. A man who would make you laugh until your belly ached. He would inspire you with his stories from serving in the army and from traveling across the US in his RV.
He left a legacy for our family that will not be taken for granted.
Well said Mija
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