Bye for Now, Jeremiah…

Tribute to Jeremiah ~ by Glenda Dubienski

“How does one deliver a tribute to one so young as Jeremiah? If Jeremiah was an average two-year old this would be more than difficult, but Jeremiah was anything but average. Jeremiah was a child whom God was particularly fond of.

Jeremiah was the little man whose favorite pastimes were going to the playground and swinging with his big sister, rocking out on his toy guitar, playing hide and seek with anyone willing to join him, wreaking havoc with his brother’s Lego creations, and smothering people with kisses. This is the Jeremiah that his family and closest friends knew.

For the majority of us here today, we really came to know Jeremiah during the last 63 days of his life. Sure, we had seen him at church, at the school Nathanael and Jessica attend, or perhaps at social functions, but it wasn’t until he got sick 2 months ago that we came to really know this wee fellow. It seems so strange to think that even while he was in an unconscious state, so much was revealed about Jeremiah and the purpose God had for his life.

Jeremiah was a gatherer. He gathered us all. As family, friends, hospice and hospital staff, doctors and nurses, we gathered together to seek healing for Jeremiah; the result of which was unity.

Jeremiah was a warrior, so strong and courageous, like his dad. Boy he put up such a fight, even to his last breath!

Jeremiah was a peacemaker. In any stressful situation relational difficulties rise to the surface and Jeremiah’s illness proved no different. Jeremiah brought people together, many of who had been distant or had strained relationships, and longstanding issues were resolved.

Jeremiah was a worship leader. Everyday since his illness, Jeremiah drew people to worship the LORD in song. I can’t tell you how many times the Rotary Flames Hospice felt more like a revival meeting than a place for “end of life care.”

Jeremiah was a prophet. Like his namesake, Jeremiah’s suffering made people examine where they place their faith. Jeremiah’s affliction was incurable according to medical science, which meant there was nowhere else to turn but to God. All the “whys” and “how longs” were directed at Him. We became completely surrendered to God and His will; we had been transformed. Even the palliative care physicians declared the hospice’s staff experience with Jeremiah was transformational. They witnessed and spoke openly about how it was the power of love that sustained his life when science said he should have departed long ago. This phenomenon pointed to the living God, for He is love.

Jeremiah … a gatherer, a peacemaker, a warrior, a worship leader, a prophet … It is astonishing to think that this little man did more in 2 short years than many believers accomplish in 80!

Certainly this is a testimony to Jeremiah’s parents. Those of us who have had the privilege of walking closely with them the past few months can testify to the extraordinary faith, strength and courage of this couple. And we learned a lot about Marlo and Jean in recent months. Early on in this battle for Jeremiah’s life, Marlo and Jean realized that this part of his journey was not just about Jeremiah and them; it was about us. They opened up their lives and their hearts and allowed us to become fellow sojourners. In doing so, some very peculiar things began to happen. People came to encourage Marlo and Jean and they left encouraged; others came to pray for healing and left healed.

As they walked a journey that most parents would consider their worst nightmare and faced decisions that none of us would want to make, Marlo and Jean consistently looked to the LORD, earnestly seeking His will. They waited upon Him, listened for His direction and followed His lead. No matter what each new day brought, they stood firm and declared God’s goodness to anyone who would listen.

It is in the midst of crisis that one’s true character is proven. Marlo and Jean proved themselves to be good and faithful servants of the Almighty. No wonder Jeremiah was such a mighty man of God.

So, we will remember Jeremiah as the sweet little boy who couldn’t wait to get his hands on his Auntie’s iPhone, or gobble down the delicacies Nanay made for him. We will recall the way he mimicked daddy playing his guitar and his creative karaoke duets with Tatay. We will reminisce upon his beautiful, playful smile and the generosity of his kisses.

But when we reflect upon Jeremiah’s life, let’s not lose sight of the many lessons he taught us about unity, fighting the good fight, strength, courage, peace, expression of faith, and the abounding love of our good God.”

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