As I have posted before just recently this is a very emotional time of year for me and my family. I just found out Friday, my oldest cousin was killed by his son. Such a tragedy for any family. It seems like so much has happened to our family-one cousin burned so badly at work he died, my brother murdered, my dad and his brother dying early deaths and now my cousin. So much tragedy, it is hard to make sense of it. It doesn't make sense. The only solace we can find is in Jesus, He is our comfort. My brother and I know what it is like to lose a brother by the hands of another so we understand to some extent, so we do what the Bible says, we comfort others with the comfort we have received from God Himself. When my brother died, I saw God move in circumstances that were impossible. But He was there taking care of us and His presence was felt by us immensely. I can't imagine my life without a relationship with the One who gave me life itself.
It's been so long since I've seen my cousin, probably at my dad's funeral. He was one of my favorite cousins, as a child we looked up to him. My aunt was talking to my brother and she was saying we were all as close as brothers and sisters. Growing up that was so true. He was 9 years older, so he was a teenager when I have my best memories. He would come and visit and stay with us for a week, eat us out of house and home. I cannot ever remember him not smiling, he reminded me a lot of his dad, my Uncle Charles. He was a Jr. but always had the nickname, Buckshot and that is the only way I ever knew him. His lifestyle and choices were a lot different from mine but I'll always remember him as that 15 year old kid who always smiled at me and ate all my ice cream. You felt special just being around him and it made you feel good to know you had something in common-you were family.