The Legacy of a Committed Man
David, thanks so much for your soft heart of sympathy. I love and respect that very much. But you know, I have a peace in my heart that I cannot really explain. This is just another part of the journey that in some way seems hard, but at the same time is made so easy, because of our Master's grace. Bob has just finished the course that I long for. He has won the race; he has kept the faith and finished his course. He is now in the presence of our maker, in whatever way the Lord has prepared. As much as we have studied the Theological aspect of it, none of us know exactly what that looks like. But whatever it is, I am sure it is peace, and joy that we have never known on this side of earth. I am thrilled that Bob has hit his final grand-slam Homerun, and the crowds are cheering him in. Only this morning I was looking back over my journals to find some encounters that I have not understood, in peaceful conversation with your grandpa, (our dad), and it gave me renewed peace of what Bob is feeling this morning. It has taken me many years to come across the kind of peace I feel now. And even at the risk of being misunderstood, and perhaps some even thinking I may have gone off the deep end, I have these sweet conversations with my parents. And as Paul said, sometimes, I don't know if I am alive or dead, I just sort of feel like I have been called up into that third heaven, where I can see the peace and joy of all those who have gone on before. It is sort of like seeing the entire chapter of Hebrews chapter 11 being rewritten, and revealed to me. But really there is no way to explain it.
The only hope and prayer that remains upon my heart is that all our family, from the farthest of kin, down to the closeness of each brother and sister of each of our generations, come to know Christ in this hope and glory that lies before us. Our brother Bob was that kind of person. Though he wasn't the loud mouth type that I am, in his own gentle, soft-spoken way, he was among the greatest modern missionaries of our time. He has touched many souls through his early adventures on the baseball diamond, through his years of service given to our country in hard and difficult times during the Viet Nam era, to the training of his children who have grown up and come to know the Lord. And he has passed this same strength down even to his grandchildren. He has passed on the legacy of our Dad in the acceptance of all people from all races and nations into our family by teaching his children to love everyone. And the best example is what we see being passed to his children through Ron who brought to our extended family a beautiful young woman by the name of Yiun. His influence rubbed off as he and Carolyn encouraged Norma and I to go to other parts of the world through their charitable and giving hearts. And I have seen and felt this same strong character and faith in the words written through e-mail by all three of his children, Ron, Mike and Julie, as they responded in faith through the acceptance of our prayers. What a legacy he has left for us all to follow and to pass on to our kids, grandkids, and extended family throughout the entire world. Only God in His infinite wisdom will know how to judge the length, breadth and depth, of this committed loving, husband, father, brother and friend. Only He could know the number of hearts this man of great character and strength has touched deeply for the Kingdom and for His glory. I feel I have walked with royalty in being a part of this man of God. I only hope you and Deb are able to see and know just a little bit of what Bob has meant in our lives, and that you will go on to live a life after such a pattern and example that he has left. I also hope you all will hold dear and precious the importance of what family really meant to him, and therefore do all in your strength to help unite and encourage the uniting of our long line of extended family. God bless you all as you continue to travel on the same journey.
Dock Caton 04/29/2011
This post started as an e-ail to my son, but I felt that many of our family and friends should share in the glory and victory that we see and feel through our beloved brother. Dock Caton
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dock, for your words and love. There's so much of Bob, and Granddad too, that I never knew. I think of you all often, and often wish I'd been closer to more of you. Hoping to find a way to do that in the coming days and weeks.
ReplyDeleteLove you, Sylvia