YOURS FAITHFULLY
IN 2018, I remember finding myself watching part of the funeral service of former United States President, George HW Bush.
Although I didn’t hear all the tributes, I got a sense of the occasion.
The great, the good – and the not so good were there!
A moving tribute from one of his sons included the following: “He accepted that failure is part of living a full life, but taught us never to be defined by failure. He showed us how setbacks can strengthen us.”
By seeming chance, the writing of today’s Yours Faithfully column coincides with the same week five years ago when, on 13 June 2017, my wife, Niki, lost her brave two-year battle with breast cancer.
Since she was diagnosed in January 2015, she had uncomplainingly endured surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy but, in the end, the damage that had been done to her body meant she had no more fight left.
For me and my daughter, Holly, those early days were very difficult.
Grief impacts people in different ways but the ache of bereavement, the feelings of deep sadness, the sudden impact of old memories and the desperate feelings of loneliness are experiences often shared by many people struggling to come to terms with such loss.
However, because we shared Niki’s strong faith and believed that she is alive, whole and well with her Lord then this indeed provided ‘blessed assurance’.
We were both privileged to spend Niki’s last few days with her at her hospital bed and were by her side as she finally stepped out of this world into a far green land where her Saviour, Jesus, welcomed her.
After Niki’s passing, more than 400 friends and family came together for a wonderful thanksgiving service where we gave thanks for the grace and kindness that Niki always displayed throughout her life.
I was deeply grateful that there was such a sense of hope and confidence that a person was indeed safe in the arms of God.
In the months after, I was greatly impacted by one particular piece of music, a lilting Celtic Christian song called Beyond These Shores by a band called Iona, which speaks of God’s loving presence even in the midst of loss.
I still listen to it now and am reminded that even if I feel solitary
I am not alone “Wherever I may go, your love surrounds me”.
Therefore, today I am grateful. Grateful for the love of my wife and for so many wonderful memories during our 29 years together.
Being grateful, I reflect that on this fifth anniversary, wherever I may go God’s love still surrounds me - and also you, too, should you want to open your heart and receive His love.
Additionally, I am grateful for the love of my daughter and of many dear friends.
I am grateful that Holly has made a new life for herself in London. And wonderfully, I am also now grateful that in 2019 I made a lovely new friend, Kathryn, who helped to heal my heartache and, wonderfully, later agreed to become my wife.
Thinking back to President George HW Bush, I am reminded of something he is reputed to have said when he retired from public office, that in retirement he still held the three most important titles he had ever
‘ How we perform in the private and the everyday is the real test of character
had - husband, father and grandfather.
I would suggest that how we perform in the private and in the everyday is the real test of character and the mark of true servant leadership.
In the pantheon of great global leaders Niki Cooke will not be heralded but as Psalm 116:15 says, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of one of his faithful servants”.
May faithful service, in public and in private, be the defining characteristic of all our lives until we hear that divine commendation, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”