Many of you have read the blog about my Uncle Vino. Most of you have caused me to cry with your comments. Either you remember him from our wedding or other times he was here to visit or you wish you had known him. Reading each comment has been bittersweet...all except one.
I have a friend named Iggy. He is one of the most wonderful people I have ever been blessed to know. After reading about my uncle he told me what he would like to happen at his funeral...something about Hooters waitresses...and well, that is just Ig. He is incorrigible and I love him dearly.
But I told him that, all jokes aside, that is not how I would "blog" about him if I lost him. Not that losing him is something I even want to think about. But it did get me thinking about how I would like to be remembered. What would others say about how they would like to be remembered? For that matter, how would YOU like to be remembered? My thoughts went even deeper and I began to think about how much I love to support and encourage those around me. I really do get a jolt of happiness from telling others about the good I see in them. So why is it that we wait? Why do we talk so nicely about people when they are gone and unable to hear it? Why are we so outwardly uncomfortable when others compliment us, when, secretly, on the inside it makes us feel great? Well, I am tired of not telling others how wonderful they are because it might be uncomfortable or they might think I am phony. Who cares. If it will encourage them, change the scope of their day or cause them to smile inside then mission accomplished!
So that is what I am going to do now. I am not going to wait for my dear friend Iggy to be gone. I am not going to indulge him with stories about Hooters waitresses no matter how funny that may be. I am going to tell the truth. And if you know him, you can affirm what I say. If you don't then I would love to introduce you to him sometime.
Iggy is one of those people that you can't help but like from the moment you meet him. He has no expectations of you except that you smile and enjoy the time that you are with him. His charm, humor and hugs are like a magnet to young and old. He is every guys favorite football buddy and every girls "best-guy-friend". If you happen to be a girl and are married, as am I, inevitably Iggy will become a great friend to your spouse. If you have kids he morphs into "Uncle Iggy!"
Iggy, is unconditional. He has been through some of the highest and lowest points in life with me, and has never once judged me or resented me. He is one of the most stable and consistent friendships I have. We can go without seeing each other for long stretches of time, but never without communicating. When we do see each other it's like time has stood still and we pick up right where we left off.
Iggy is adventurous. He has packed up his life and moved to Florida to work on a golf course...then packed up again to take ten months off and walk the great wall of China with his good friend Jamie. He is currently in Abu Dhabi and Dubai with his mother working to better the lives of special needs kids in the school systems there. It is so very interesting to sit with him and look at the pictures of his adventures and hear the stories that correspond. My daughter has learned a great deal of geography and social science from Uncle Iggy as he tells her about the places he has seen and the experiences he has had there.
Iggy is generous. When he comes home from one of his many trips my children are so happy to see him. He gives of his time and himself to them as well as to Chip and I. My little ones climb on him as if he were a jungle gym. And this big bear of a man is perfectly fine with that. Whenever you sit by Iggy his arm inevitably wraps itself around your shoulder and the kids always scramble to be the first to sit right next to him. They are lucky if they beat me there! After we have spent time with this wonderful man, just before he leaves our home, he always pulls out gifts from wherever he has been most recently. My children are always in awe of what he brings. Whether it's real pirate treasure, or a genuine genie lamp, or a vibrating, squawking parrot, there is always a story to go along with the gift. Something that makes it exciting and precious to them. (By the way, I am not such a big fan of the parrot.)
When all is said and done, Iggy is a spark of sunshine in a world filled with darkness. He is an example of how to live with a smile on your face no matter what your circumstances. Kinda reminds me of the apostle Paul... He is loving and kind and my world is a better place because I am honoured to call him my friend. How do I ever thank God for such an undeserved blessing?
So, my charge to you is this. Who can you encourage today? Who's day will you change? When you think something nice about someone, push past the social awkwardness and let your words bless them.
Iggy, I love you, and I am so very proud to have you as a square in the quilt of my life.
