Yesterday was truly a bittersweet day, as my family celebrated the homegoing of a very great man, my great-uncle Marvin Hawkins. It's really hard to condense the accomplishments of "Uncle Marvin" over 65 years into a few sentences; in short, there will never be another like him. Uncle Marvin possessed three things that truly established him as one of a kind: A joyous demeanor which could not be fazed, a love of the Lord matched by few, and a true understanding of his calling.
I told my grandmother (Marvin's older sister) I had never seen him upset. She laughed and said he never was. While I'm sure he experienced pain, his smile always remained unscathed. Nothing took him out the zone; he was Tom Brady on soul food.
Throughout his life, my uncle was an astute believer in God. Everyone knew he loved the Lord and it was reflected in his life. You can't front on Jesus, like he's one of your hoochies. Uncle Marvin loved him so much he joined a doo-wop GOSPEL group. Now that's real. The most important result of his love for the Lord is that he was a servant. He helped everyone that asked him. His love for God allowed him to do what many of us deem too challenging or impossible. Many times we forget the purpose of helping people. That purpose was never more evident than witnessing that large church being filled beyond seating capacity.
My uncle acknowledged the calling that God had for him. Despite the sacrifices it required, he stayed the course. Marvin knew he had been enlisted to watch over his mother, support his nieces and nephews, and devote himself to the development of the church. He did those to a T. He displayed a true dedication to his calling, a dedication needed to be successful.
I can only wish to be half the man my uncle was, but I am truly grateful for the example he set. Love you Unc.
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I told my grandmother (Marvin's older sister) I had never seen him upset. She laughed and said he never was. While I'm sure he experienced pain, his smile always remained unscathed. Nothing took him out the zone; he was Tom Brady on soul food.
Throughout his life, my uncle was an astute believer in God. Everyone knew he loved the Lord and it was reflected in his life. You can't front on Jesus, like he's one of your hoochies. Uncle Marvin loved him so much he joined a doo-wop GOSPEL group. Now that's real. The most important result of his love for the Lord is that he was a servant. He helped everyone that asked him. His love for God allowed him to do what many of us deem too challenging or impossible. Many times we forget the purpose of helping people. That purpose was never more evident than witnessing that large church being filled beyond seating capacity.
My uncle acknowledged the calling that God had for him. Despite the sacrifices it required, he stayed the course. Marvin knew he had been enlisted to watch over his mother, support his nieces and nephews, and devote himself to the development of the church. He did those to a T. He displayed a true dedication to his calling, a dedication needed to be successful.
I can only wish to be half the man my uncle was, but I am truly grateful for the example he set. Love you Unc.
Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7
Nice tribute to your Uncle Ced. Continue to honor is memory through your achievements and willingness to serve others.
ReplyDeleteR.I.P. Uncle Marvin
Ced, I truly believe that with the passing of old school greats like your uncle, we see the true value in following their ways in a world of new school, selfish, god forgetting boys (not men). I've lost a male great role model in my high school days but please believe it only heightened my need to make him proud! Here's to keeping on the road that's less traveled in a day and age where it's cool to be irresponsible.
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