I want to tell about the privilege I had of knowing Jonadab (of Praise) I only met him shortly in Thailand, before he died, but he left a deep impression from the very beginning. Not that I just say this because he died, but because he was quite unusual. The best way to explain it maybe is his attitude, which he once in a while expressed in the following saying that he was famous for: "The way that you feel and act towards the person, you like the least, that is how much you love Jesus."
He was a lot of fun and still always aware of his responsibility to be a sample of the Lords love to those around and especially to the young people who, as far as what I could see and feel and hear from them during that time, really looked up to him and loved and respected him. And so did I, the more I got to know him.
If you asked him a question, he would give his little smile and stop for a moment. I could tell he was praying. He would not just say whatever came to his mind, but he was very prayerful. His children are also so sweet and precious, very good fruit from a good tree, as far as I could see.
I moved to another home and when I heard that he was sick, I was very surprised as before this, he seemed to be so full of life. There must be others who knew him more and much better than me, but this is my little contribution.
Thank you , Jonadab, for helping many of us to love Jesus more. I love you and look forward to see you again!
Written by by Nyx Martinez
In ninth grade, there was one teacher who stood out to me more than all the rest. We called him Uncle Jo. Uncle Jo was a funny guy, aging in years but a kid at heart. He made those boring history books seem exceptionally fun and put the sparkle into everything about life.
Uncle Jo cared for a boy named Mikey whom we called “the special child.” Mikey was indeed special, for he was handicapped with autism, which left him unable to care for himself. So it was our teacher, Uncle Jo, who fed him, dressed him, walked him, and read him stories.
I admired Uncle Jo for his love for Mikey, but a few weeks later, I was proud of my teacher. Because those were his last days on Earth, and he had spent them for somebody else. Shortly after, Uncle Jo slipped into a coma that would seal his life. I later found out that he had been battling a deadly cancer.
Uncle Jo taught me many subjects in school, but for all those lectures, it was his sample of sacrifice that taught me the biggest lesson. Here was a dying man who spent his final days not making his atmosphere a more comfortable place for himself, but for a helpless child.
A very great man made his mark in history then, and engraved that mark in my mind, to remember for many more years to come. I realized at that early age how precious one’s life is, and how short its span may be. One day Uncle Jo was up and about, and the next … he was gone. He understood that the present day was all he had to make the most of, so he put his best efforts into that day, no matter how lowly the task.
Today, I close my eyes and think back at the time that was, and then … it’s as if … I see the image of Uncle Jo’s face and the twinkle in his eye as he smiles, “Life is too short to spend it on only yourself.”
The matter of how short is trivial, because what lives on in the hearts and minds of others never dies. It is the deeds you do, the words you speak, the love you give, and your greatness-of-lowliness that will be treasured forever.
He that is greatest among you shall be your servant (Matthew 23:11 NIV).
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