Do You Know Jesus?

November 26, 2023
 
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius
 
One of my many uncles recently passed away.  As he and my aunt lived north of Minneapolis, I really didn’t have much contact with him.  I know he was a good and God-fearing man.  How do I know this?
 
When I was about eight years old, my cousin, Melvin Stecker died.  He was only three or four years old.  Back then, it was the custom to view the deceased in the home, not the funeral home.  So it was that the funeral home brought Melvin’s body to his house in a little casket.
 
Of course, the entire family gathered in his old farm home.  I knew that Melvin had been ill with some kind of liver disease, but to experience now, at age eight, his death was indeed something new.  But the uncle about which I wrote earlier, took all of us little cousins upstairs in that old farmhouse.  The only source of heat was rising up through a floor register.  It was the prime spot to listen to whatever our uncle was about to say.
 
He proceeded to tell us all about Jesus and that little Melvin was now with Him in heaven.  He went on to ask if we cousins knew Jesus or wanted to know Him.  My little arm popped up because I thought that’s what I was supposed to do, say “YES” to Jesus.  I don’t remember much after that, but I do recall that our uncle prayed for all of us cousins.
 
Later that evening, Mom and Dad told me that all the cousins were going to be pall bearers for little Melvin.  It was indeed an honor.
 
I thank God for family and even for my uncle’s bold question to all my cousins.  God bless his memory.
 
Just reminiscing,
Pastor Allan
 
©2023 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved