Hello my dear friends.
I made a commitment to my supporters (financial supporters, prayer supporters, encouragers, and otherwise) almost 6 months ago that I would do my utmost to keep you informed and up to date with my mission movements. Thus, I apologize for my lack of communication this past month.
However, I know most of you, and I know many of you well; I know you do not begrudge me this time of peace and healing. While I love my God, while I trust in Him, while the dawn of a new day brings my mother and brothers and myself rays of hope, we are yet wounded.
Allow me to tell you the story. I realize several of you may be unaware of the death in my family, and many of you are unaware of the circumstances surrounding this death and my abrupt and unplanned departure from Nigeria nearly a month ago.
On March 7th, 2009 my parents were sitting in church together partaking of the Saturday evening service. My dad had just completed giving a message to nearly 400 children and their parents on Hope at the monthly Family Experience (FX) show, a program put on by a cast of dedicated individuals from my Sun Valley Church Family.
Mom and Dad sat together in church. The music of praise to our God had just ended, and the congregation was taking communion as the first of 379 individuals prepared to be baptized during that particular weekend service. My mother and father took communion together, and not 30 seconds later my dad breathed his last and joined his God in Heaven.
About five hours later and 8 time-zones away I woke up to the most devastating of calls. I desperately wanted to be home with my mom and brothers, yet I never wanted to be so far away as I was then. I could go on for hours about the next several days. I could tell you about the miracles of God getting me home in 3 and ½ days. I could tell you about the love of a church family that grieved with me and mine and loved us in complete ferocity. I could tell you about the heartbreak and broken dreams. But I will not.
I must tell you about my Good God. My heart weeps at this moment as I bask in the love my God has lavished upon me. Not once…NOT ONCE through this process have I felt alone. From the moment my world changed to this very day I have been cradled on the lap of my Almighty Father in Heaven. He has let me weep and dried my tears and loved me. Never have I been so aware of my God’s love than during this time of sorrow. Never have I been so aware of homecoming and LIFE, for the reality of my dad’s death is this: From partaking in a paltry representation of incredible sacrifice, communion, a symbol of Christ’s love and sacrifice-Jesus’ flesh broken and blood poured out so that you and I might have life in Him- my dad went to kneeling in awe at the feet of His LORD and Savior. Do you see? He went from drinking some grape juice and eating a cracker to the ecstasy of being in the presence of God. I miss him, but, oh, my daddy at 51 had a life well lived…and I believe his work continues as he exists in the totality and love of our Great God.
As for me and my family, we believe in God and His goodness, for He has told us to Trust In HIM. So we will. While weeping may tarry for the night, we know joy comes with the dawn. We miss dad, but our dawn has come. God has come.
These two pieces below are the obituary I wrote and eulogy I gave at my dad’s Life Celebration service. I hope they give you a picture of the man he was,
the man he is.
Obituary
Jerry Wayne Robinson
Jerry Wayne Robinson, beloved husband and father, passed away on March 7, 2009 he was 51 years old. Jerry was born on August 15, 1957 in St. Louis, Missouri. He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Deb Robinson of Gilbert, his daughter, Katherine Robinson, three sons, Jake Robinson, Peter Robinson, and Alex Robinson, his father, Jerry F. Robinson, and two brothers, Tom and Marty Robinson. After service in the military, Jerry worked as an engineer for 24 years. Jerry's first love was always his God and his family. His life demonstrated a love for people and service to them. Generous of heart, Jerry was quick to help those who needed it. He loved his church family and found his second home there at Sun Valley Community Church. Known for his sense of humor and love for people, Jerry is missed, but his family and church remain secure in his love and belief in his Savior, Jesus Christ. His family knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that in Christ they will one day be reunited. Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2009 at Sun Valley Community Church, 465 East Ray Road, Gilbert, AZ at 11:00 a.m.
Eulogy
Most of you know my dad.
You know my dad as someone who loves church, as a man with a ready smile and quick hand to help. You know my dad as a prankster, someone with myriad jokes-jokes often offered at inappropriate times. You know my dad, and you enjoyed him. Loved him. But we kids want to share how we knew my dad.
Second to being a child of God, my dad was a husband. Dad loved his wife with a fervor that belies the 33 years they have been blessed with. Great and grand is my dad’s heart, and great and grand is the love my parents shared. If you’ve watched my dad with my mom you have seen his care of her, his care for her. Dad was enamored with Mom.
My brothers and myself have grown into adults seeing their love, and during these last few years, their love was especially sweet. We have watched them, listened to them, and we now, all four of us, yearn for the love they have had. I pray that my brothers and myself might be blessed to have the love they have had for as long as they have had each other…Husbands, wives, love each other. This is one of the greatest gifts you can give your children.
Third, after being a child of God and husband, my dad was a father. Through the times when dad was stern, mad, in a bad mood…we NEVER doubted his love. Emulating God’s love for His children, my dad loved us ardently. Never an absent father, dad was involved, consistent, supportive, strict, happy. My dad laughed with us. He is proud of us; in life we remember beautiful moments where dad let us know in simple words and with simple touches how proud of us he was…how he found such pleasure in us. I believe our God has welcomed my dad into His arms with a whispered, “Well done, my good and faithful servant”-and in a thousand ways my dad has looked at us, his children, and while with us he has said with but a glance, well done my sons. Well done my daughter. Keep going.
My dad’s legacy to his children, and his grand children one day are these:
-An inheritance of living for God. Christ is our LORD and Savior.
-Honor and integrity-dad oozed this.
-Love. It ruled his life.
-Warrior-fierce of nature and tender of heart, my dad was our hero.
We don’t say these things to be poignant or to make you weep. We don’t say them for pity. I say them because we four kids and my mom love my dad, and we celebrate who God made him, the child of God, the husband, the father, the friend, the servant.
Sun Valley, on behalf of myself and my brothers and my mother, we thank you. Thank you for your quick love, grand support- this is a love and service that befits a church seeking after God’s heart. Specifically from my brother Jake, we thank you for your help.
To God be the glory, my friends. We are blessed this day. Chase after God. Each breath is precious and on loan. Love your family and friends, and love the God who belongs to you if you would have Him.
And I leave you with this verse that has brought my mother and myself such comfort:
Zephaniah 3:17-The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.
