Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Thoughts on my beloved brother now with Jesus...


On January 31, 2009...a very special man in my life passed from this world to his heavenly home. That man was Stephen Jude Hingle.

Steve was a very instrumental person in my life and my husband's life. He was like another father to us both and another grandfather to our children. Steve and his wife Ellen were always an example of Christian love and hospitality as well as extreme faith in Jesus.

I would like to take a few moments to reminisce...

Steve had an amazing way of drawing people in, his smile was wonderful...it glowed with joy from within. He always greeted you with love...even when you needed a bit of reproof. Laughter and joy were bubbling over from this wonderful man's life! I remember one night Steve had us over for dinner. His wife, Ellen, had planned a lantern-light dinner in the old 'park'. One of their sons lead us to our table and over the course of dinner their children, seven in number at the time, brought out each course AND babysat our baby. Mind you it was only about 50 out that night! We sat in the chilly fall weather laughing and sharing with each other. Another fun memory is when we had a new family come to visit, we knew the only as the 'Italians', we later learned they were the Kamperman's, He is Dutch and she is an Italian from Australia! Anyways, they new nothing really about our little home church. ( Which by the way was over 100 in attendance at Steve's house over that Christmas weekend!) Well, Steve introduced himself to them with a pair of 'hillbilly' teeth in his mouth! Steve was a joker at heart and a man after God's own heart!

Steve is in heaven now with his 23 year old son, Joshua, who drowned and was buried 6 months to the day of Steve. He also joins his father, mother, mother-in-law, and 4 miscarried babies. He died after a long battle with Lymphoma...

Everything Steve ever said or did means so much more now knowing that He planted into my life while battling this sickness...He battled it for 20 years! That is unheard of in the medical world...with God's strength and mercy only was this possible!

Mu brother, mentor, and friend did not lose this battle...he fought the good fight. He ran the race and finished it. He was victorious! He is now home with the Father!

I thank God for the years of time I had with Steve and his family and pray for Mercy and Grace for his family; Ellen, Zach, Anna, Sarah, Mark, Jessica, Matt, Obe, Mercy, Elizabeth, Israel, and Daniel. God Bless you all!

2 comments:

rcowlily said...

Thank you.. He was such a blessing from God! Have a wonderful afternoon, OOXX Mama

The Pennington Point said...

I just found your blog through petersonclan. I am so sorry about the loss of your brother. It seems like your family has had quite a blow lately. I have been there. My brother died for years ago and we had two more losses right after that. It gets better. Lisa~ http://livingmybestlife-lisa.blogspot.com/2009/01/my-brother.html