When I was younger my neighbor Jimmy was my best friend. I was as skinny as a rail and Jimmy was just the opposite. We looked like Laurel and Hardy. Occasionally we would fight. I was hard to catch, but when Jimmy caught me he would sit on my chest until I would say Uncle. They say a heart attack feels like an elephant standing on your chest, this had to be close. I could not catch my breath and saw my life flashing before my eyes. My only option was to say Uncle and give up.
Sin has the same effect. The same way Jimmy caught up to me, so did sin. Sin takes your breath away. Instead of crying uncle, you cry out to your father. Your Heavenly father can lift the weight of sin off of your chest and give you a chance to breathe again. You are given new life.
On father’s day I wrote a blog about meeting my dad at Heaven’s Gate. I know my Uncle Verne will be standing next to him. Uncle Verne went to Heaven not long after my dad. It could have been because my Dad could not handle my Grandma Georgia (their mother-in-law) by himself. Uncle Verne had a heart of gold, and like my dad he was loved by many and missed very much. I think of him often. I imagine the joy of seeing him will leave me speechless. The excitement will leave me once again unable to catch my breath. It won’t last long though, because as soon as I see his smile I will run to him and cry out, “Uncle!”