My dear dear Uncle Emmanuel
What can I say throughout my life you have been there
My earliest memories were of you at Coventry road. I was always asking mum and dad if we were going to see you when we passed by. And when we did I would ask you so many questions about your cool music collection and those speakers! I remember you were always dressed sharply.
When you started working in Gants Hill and we were passing by I would again always ask if we could stop and see you. You always took the time to greet me and have a chat and introduce me to all your colleagues. You worked in a restaurant with a chip shop and you always insisted that I left with a big bag of chips.
How overjoyed I was when you and Auntie Annette were to be married. I remember being a bridesmaid with Nina and Char as we practiced to elegantly walk down the aisle. I was so honoured to be involved. And again when you became a Proud Dad for the first time with my cousin Ruth, then later Nathaniel and later Joel. You were so proud of every one of their milestones from walking and talking all the way to their graduations and their first jobs and beyond. I remember when I looked after them when they were young and you and Auntie Annette went on dates. I remember more recently you dancing at all the weddings in our three families.
You were always a family man but you also made so many people your family. You took time to see those people even when they moved away. That’s why Dad was not surprised that you took him to visit friends out of London when we were all planning to surprise him and my mum. I remember when I had to keep the surprise that you were planning to visit your brothers my Dad and Uncle Ernest and his family the US.
Soon I was old enough to pass by your dental workshop myself. Even though I used to see you at both homes. Each and every time you would always take the time to chat and find out what I was up to. Each time your workshop moved I found my way there, joining you on your delivery runs before you dropped me home.
I was often dropping by to see you at your dental workshop where you have fixed the smiles for so many people, dressed in your white lab coat. In fact it was you who bought my first labcoats when I embarked on my degree and later my clinical career in hospital.
You were always spending an extra minute an extra hour to make sure that each smile was perfect for who ever would bear it. That wasn’t the only way you sacrificed you did so much for so many and you did it quietly without fuss or fanfare or consideration for the cost, always ready give to others.
I remember how people at church where you were also an elder would tell me all the time “I have seen your Dad”,but I soon realised you had told them I was your daughter because when I said my Dad was not here or pointed at him they would looked so confused and surprised, then I would say “oh yes I know… you mean Uncle” but it was not a surprise to me because you treated me a such.
I remember how proud I was of you as teacher both for Sunday School and professionally also. Initially I had wondered that it would be difficult if you would not be focused on putting smiles on peoples faces in the same way, so when you later told me you were going to further your dental career as a denturist I was so overjoyed for you.
It was a pleasure to talk and share about what I had learnt form my medicinal education with you. I saw how you worked tirelessly to do the course diligently with everything else in your life, with family life, ministry and other things and selflessly helped your fellow student, so when you finally opened your own lab with the clinic out front it was an amazing blessing.
I still remember the day you showed your denturist clinic to me you had drawn the curtain and did a big reveal. Sitting in the dental chair I knew what a journey it had been but the best thing was seeing all the lives you touched. I would often exclaim “Is this one of yours…?” when I saw a picture transformation of person face being transformed with a stunning smile.
Many of those people would pop by and say hello to you long after they had had treatment and some you would speak to in their native language, I would be stunned and think wait how does my uncle know so many languages. You would encourage them and give them a good news new testament. Your biggest joy was the Lord and you would share the good news of the gospel with everyone!
It was bittersweet day the day you closed the lab for your retirement, and I was I was glad I came by that day.
From the pictures you sent and showed me of your time in Ghana I could see your joy and how you also finally had opportunity to truly rest, though even then you were out and about enjoying yourself recreationally. I shouldn’t be surprised since you were always active with bike rides across the country, swimming, playing table tennis and more.
I will miss your smile, your hugs, hearing you say ‘Hello Sweetness’. You reading every bible verse with such conviction. I am grateful for all the times our families spent together in fun prayer and fellowship, all the times you came to visit. I’m grateful for the way you have (and still) lived, laughed, and loved and all the good times.
I am grateful that you’re with Abba Father in a place where everyone smiles.
Reunited with Foster, my grandparents, Aunties mum, your best man Jonathan and with so many many loved ones. Thank you for choosing the Lord Jesus as your saviour so that in Him we too have that promise of being reunited eternally where sorrow is no longer.
Abba Father assures me this not goodbye … So see you later Uncle Emmanuel close to half a century was never enough but I am comforted that our heavenly Father promises us an eternity without sadness if only we choose His Son Jesus. Thank you Abba Father for all your gifts and the gift that was my dear, dear Uncle Emmanuel.
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