Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Adieu, uncle Leif


My very best uncle Leif has had a massive brain hemorrhage a week ago, and is now waiting to meet the Lord and his earthly family in Heaven.
His wife and three children are waking by his side 24/7.

We are all mourning, hundreds and hundreds of Sunday school pupils, nieces and nephews, athletics, alcoholics and their families, the sick, sailors and foreigners he met through his work, the poor and the elderly.

We were all time after time touched by his smile, his sincere concern, his extraordinary charm and vivid enthusiasm.
To me the greatest moments were in Sunday school when he would engage a class of 150 pupils so that neither would ever forget their way to heaven.
Now he is about to finish his race, and I know there'll be a happy crowd to welcome him.
Last year he followed my Dad step by step on his way to heaven. They comforted each other that they soon were going to wear again the beautiful rose-pullovers they got for Christmas as small boys. The grown-ups laughed at the little brethren who wondered if they might wear those beautiful pullovers in Heaven. When my grandma passed away a few years after and left them motherless as small schoolboys, they still were comforted by the thought of the reunion in their rose-pullovers.

He left quietly at 02.15 this afternoon, April 10th.
All of his nearest and dearest family gathered around him.
We borrowed my uncle, they owned him.

These are all songs loved by my uncle.
The two first with traditional Sunday school illustrations.
Rock of Ages with Bob Dylan, cause my uncle's eldest grandson is a famous rocker here in Norway. My uncle was very proud of him.
I should also add You are My sunshine, which uncle Leif sung and played harmonica to in Serina's confirmation party, to fill out the many colored picture of this unique man.
Uncle, we love you.
Gunnar, Serina and Elise


11 comments:

Renae said...

I'm so sorry for your loss, for you and your family, Felisol. So glad he knew the Lord, and will now get to be with Jesus and with your father.

Prayers for all of you.

Renae

Felisol said...

Dear Renae,
thank you for your compassion.
Our loss is huge, but I know for certain that my uncle have been welcomed by lots and lots of souls that he has prayed into heaven.
My uncle have followed so many unsaved on their deathbed and helped them find their way home.
He was that kind of man, he never gave on on anybody.
There'll be a huge gap after him.
His wife and children need our prayers now.
From your Felisol

Pilgrim Pals said...

Dearest Felisol...I know that I should not feel sad about your uncle but I do. We got to know him through your posts and I really mourn for your cousin. Oh he will miss him terribly and now we must pray fervently that the circle in heaven will not be broken but your cousin will be saved and your uncle will have his whole family around him....My sympathies to you my Felisol, Gunnar, Serina and Mom Ljung..

Sue Seibert said...

May Leif rest in peace and may light, perpetual shine upon him. Amen.

Saija said...

i add my sympathy to you and your family for your loss ...

but your loss is heaven's gain ...

((hugs))

Jim said...

Hi Felisol -- I am sorry about your uncle, it sounds like he didn't suffer very long.
I know you and the family will miss him an awfully lot.

This will be my last comment for a couple of weeks unless we find an Internet cafe. We may go to a library to get e-mail, check for blog comments, etc.
..

Mrs. Mac said...

Dear Felisol ... I'm too am sad about your uncle Leif's passing. He sounded like a wonderful, on-fire for God man. Heaven's gain.

Your fickle spring weather is much like ours. We had about 14 inches of snow the day after my parents arrived for a two week visit. This, hopefully, is the last for the season. Yesterday and today were beyond beautiful. The sun chased away the winter doldrums and reawakened me from a long winters 'nap' ... the past two day's I've spent as much time as possible outdoors just breathing in the spring air. Your efforts with daffodils and snow were echoed in our area. I hope you have a blessed week. P.S. I liked your photos you posted.

Lucy Stern said...

So sorry to hear about your Uncle....It is hard to lose those that we love. My prayers are with you. My daughter sings "You are my sunshine" to my 2 and a half yr. old Granddaughter and she loves it. She tries to sing along and it is really cute. Aren't memories wonderful.

Felisol said...

Dear Terry,
thank you for caring and being here.
It's such a comfort, you'll never, ever know

Dear Sioux Sue,
thank you for your wonderful blessing.

Dear Saija,
yes I know that heaven must be shining now when uncle has joined his Mom and Dad, two sisters and three brothers.
My Grandma was the first one to find her place in the Pentecost Church, her children joined one by one after her death in 1935.
And they never let Jesus out of their hearts, but worked as true servants for more than sixty years.

Dear Jim,
thanks for your prayers.
Even when death is to be expected, it's never welcome.
The higher love, the greater pain.

Dear Mrs. Mac,
you are so right. My uncle was on fire for Jesus and touched every heart he met.

Dear Lucy Stern,
My uncle taught himself to play harmonica while visiting his wife's nephew in Baton Rouge.
He came home sparkling as always, singing the song he'd learnt to know down South.
I'll never forget him playing for Serina at her confirmation.
Spreading joy and laughter was my uncle's greatest pleasure.

From Felisol

Pilot Mom said...

((((Felisol)))) Popping in to give you some cyber hugs and to let you know that I am so sorry for your loss. I agree with whoever said, "Heaven's gain!"

Is Serina home yet? I'm unsure what with your Uncle dying. I'm still praying for your Serina regardless of where she is! Our children need our prayers every day, whether home or away. :)

Felisol said...

Dear Pilot Mom,
thank you for thoughts and prayers.
They are so welcome, as were your mega hugs.

My uncle is going to be buried tomorrow. I'm praying for strength and blessings that day, especially for my uncle's wife and their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Serina was in Azerbaijan when my uncle died and in writing moment she's on her way to Hollywood (with 130 fellow students.)
She had such a good time in Azerbaijan, but honestly I am more frightened of Hollywood.
They're going to stay just off Sunset Boulevard, and I think I've read that is the most criminal area in Hollywood.
So I am glad you are praying as II am lifting Pilot up every night.

On my calendar for today is written," Worrying is to thing about the future as if there were no God.
But we know HE is.
From Felisol