Dear Uncle Mahlon,
It’s been almost a month since you’ve made your way to heaven. I hope it’s everything you imagined and more. I know God welcomed you with open arms. I know he told you how proud he was of you, and how faithful of a servant you were to him. Anyone lucky enough to know you would agree that you are the textbook definition of God-fearing, loyal, and generous.
At your service, the pastor invited people to speak on your behalf. I wanted to go up so badly, but my mind was racing with things to say about you, and the number of tears coming from my eyes put Niagara Falls to shame. I knew I couldn’t say everything I wanted or be intelligible for anyone to understand.
I’ve had time to reflect on memories we’ve shared and all the beautiful things that make you, you, so this is what I would’ve said…
You always told me: “Think about this, my raven-haired beauty, there’s a one-in-a-million chance that of all the babies in China, we got you. Of all the families that you could’ve been in, you became part of ours. That’s not a coincidence.”
The odds were against us in countless situations, life didn’t waste time being life. Through the ups and downs in ANY case… you were always there. If I needed advice, wanted to know how to fix something, share a song with you, anytime I needed you, or wanted to talk, you always picked up the phone.
What I would do to hear your laugh. It’s one of the first things I think of when I think of you.
It’s warm, distinct, and could be heard from anywhere.
I remember that you would tell a terrible joke, and I’m sorry, they were not that funny, but instantaneously after telling it, you would laugh. Then, everyone else would laugh because of your incredible laugh. This only reinforced the bad jokes, and the cycle continued.
There was nothing that you didn’t know. You knew a little bit about everything. If anyone ever needed directions, you could get them from point A to point B a million different ways; you never knew a stranger, you had the power to heal any animal, and whenever you were giving me advice, you would recite a perfect quote that always pertained to our conversation or situation. One of my favorite quotes you shared was, “If you think you can or can’t, you’re right.” We were sitting in the dining room, having a heart-to-heart. I was telling you that I was worried about where I was going. That I was afraid of failure. You recited that quote and told me to look ahead, not down at my feet. You said if you stay scared and only look down at your feet, you’ll miss what’s ahead of you. You told me always to look ahead.
I remember the delicious meals you would make, your chicken wings, our fresh fish fries after a day of fishing, and the milkshakes you would make with your old machine. I remember always cutting the noodles for your homemade chicken noodle soup at Thanksgiving. I never told you, but I thought that was the most monotonous job, but I’d do it a million times more if I got to spend more Thanksgivings with you. I’ll miss the homemade French onion soup you make every Christmas. I’ll miss your biscuits and gravy most of all.
One of the last memories I have with you is talking in the kitchen, and you told me one of your favorite memories was when I told my dad that his biscuits and gravy were “good”, but Uncle Mahlon makes the “best”. The smile on your face went from ear to ear. That is an image that will live in my mind forever.
A language that you and I spoke was through music. I would always send you songs I thought you’d like, and you would always listen to the lyrics. That was the most meaningful thing to me. You understood how much the words meant to me. You didn’t just listen to the music. You heard the message through it.
Anytime I see SpongeBob, Fruit Stripe Gum, Apple products, the farm, or think of the meaning of unconditional love. I will think of you.
Thank you for loving me the way you do. You were an angel on earth, and now you’re home.
I hope you’re fishing, laughing, and surrounded by all you love who have made it to heaven, too; say Hi to Dad for me.
Your legacy of loyalty, love, and faithfullness will live on; I’ll make sure of it.
With love,
Your Raven-Haired Beauty
