Where do we even begin? How do you describe someone as wonderful as Pa…
Pa was such an amazing person inside and out. The life he lived manifested his relationship with God and was a testament of his faith and walk with God. He had such a love for the Word and for God and everyone who has met Pa, can never deny it and have testified to it. In Pa’s testimony, he said he loved truth and he lived it. He was a man of conviction with no hidden agenda and was so humble and sincere. He always put the Word and everyone else before himself and God used him in such a wonderful way. He never complained but gave thanks for everything. He reminded us alot of our Dad. He never judged anyone and was always present when we needed help. He understood and always knew the right thing to say to help us. We have such fond memories of Pa. He was so full of energy and humour… and how he loved durian. He used to call a Singapore dish ‘Nasty Lemak’ instead of ‘Nasi Lemak’ because he found it too spicy. We remember a time when he was experiencing a terrible toothache but he never told anyone because he didn’t want anyone to worry.
We know there are no words to soothe the pain you feel and we know how hard it is to deal with the loss of someone as wonderful as Pa, but God has His reasons and His ways are past finding out. When we lost our Dad, we felt that it was the biggest trial and the most painful thing we ever had to go through. We wondered how we were going to go on because Dad was just the best to us. Then, God gave us the best… Pa and Mama, who were always there for us, advising us and supporting us. We became their family and they became ours. Pa stepped in as a father and treated us like his own, calling us on our birthdays, congratulating us on achievements and never failing to give us godly counsel. We looked up to him for everything and he never gave up on us. We know he was always looking for his body change. He spoke about how tired he was and how he longed to go home and how he never wanted to suffer in pain but he wanted to go without pain and God granted it to His faithful servant. When Pa crossed over, we wondered what we were going to do without him. But going through the emails he sent us when we lost our Dad, we came across one of the emails Pa sent us, encouraging us saying, “As much as I wish Dad was still here, I can’t help thinking that God planned it and He wouldn’t have it any other way. We will continue having questions and when situations arise, we will wish he were here. Sometimes it’s hard to understand God’s way but the scriptures declare that His ways are past finding out and His thoughts are above our thoughts. Despite it all, we have a peace that passes all understanding and a joy that wipes away our tears.” We are filled with emotion, going through Pa’s emails to us and Pa and our Dad’s email conversations. He was Dad’s best friend and Dad loved him. Dad always called Pa “The Best Preacher”. We are so glad we still have Dad and Pa’s audio conversations and videos of Pa to remember him by. As much as we would still want Pa around, he would never want to trade places because what he preached about and believed has become real to him. He would be fellowshipping with Dad now. We miss him terribly, his jokes, his laugh, his emails, his love and his advice… but he left us with the best, the life he manifested and his godly advice which we can never forget.
To Jess, Al, Liam and Stevie, Pa always spoke about how rich he was when he looked at you. We recall him telling us that one of his sibling’s children were all big shots and they were doing well. But he said, he felt like a wealthy man when he looked at all of you and to see the love you had for the Word. The things he told us about all of you really inspired us to be just that. Al, the sermons you preach and the advice you’ve given, Liam the emails and devotions you’ve done, Stevie the faith you had and the way you preached (honestly, our Mom couldn’t tell the difference between you and Pa), Jess, Pa always said if you were a man, you’d have been a preacher and how you were his favorite daughter. Pa was very proud and so happy to see the stand you all took with the Word. When our Dad went to be with the Lord, Pa spoke about the legacy Dad left behind and the life he lived. We thought of the same when Pa crossed over. His legacy, the life he lived, the wife and the children, in-laws and grandchildren he left behind. It’s a wonderful legacy and a wonderful credit to Pa and Mama.
To Mama, we know it is the worst feeling in the world to lose the love of your life and how your life will never be the same. We understand the pain you must be feeling. Pa loved you so much. Take courage, the last thing you said to Pa was the best you could have given him, you spoke the Word. We know how much you must miss him but we have a hope. Everyday is a day closer to our body change, where we will never be separated again from the ones we love the most.
We love all of you dearly and we are always here. All of you are always in our prayers. May God be your portion, comfort and strength always.
Love always,
Jeremy, Joy & Sis Esther
The Fisherman’s Family
