Today March 18 2018 would have been the 12th wedding anniversary of Caleb Adigun and I. But he died on August 7 2011.
I got to know Edwin and Shirley through Caleb. He spoke glowingly of their love and friendship towards him when he was at TTE for training. They were a source of encouragement and support for him while he was faraway from home in Nigeria.
I got to know about the famous UNO nights and the meals that he enjoyed with the Thormans and other friends.
Edwin and Shirley sent us a box of Edinburgh Crystal glasses for our wedding. I've still got the gift and the card they sent with it.
Caleb and I finally got to visit Edwin and Shirley together in January 2010 at Norton and enjoyed our short time with them.
Edwin struck me as the kind of person I could tell anything to. He was gentle and kind and generous. I still have his dog-eared contact card as a member of the Hospital Liaison Committee. I just kept it all these years after I found it among Caleb's stuff.
After Caleb passed, Edwin and Shirley were of immense support to me, emotionally and spiritually. Now that the roles have been reversed, I hope that I can be a strengthening aid to Shirley as well. Shirley, I am sending you lots of hugs from Nigeria.
I still have the email Edwin and Shirley sent to me after Caleb died. I'd like to share it below:
"Dearest Linda,
I have been sitting in front of the computer screen for over half an hour,
nothing would come to mind that I felt was in any way adequate or mildly
comforting to you at this most dreadful moment in your life.
The voicemail messages that we receive are very poor quality, drifting and
out so we get very little of what you say. We hope that we didn't miss
anything that you asked of us, we weren't sure if you really wanted us to
call you on such an occasion, we hope we got it right.
Linda you sounded graceful and dignified and we feel that Jehovah is
supporting you along with your loving family, brothers and sisters including
ourselves.
It is almost time for our Dear Caleb to be put to rest, so very very safe
in Jehovah's memory and will remain in ours too until the day we can all be
together again, what groaning we have for that day.
Yes your wonderful memories will help and sustain you. We just knew he
would be a wonderful husband when we first met Caleb and we remember him so
clearly texting his Linda with such excitement. You said just how much
Caleb had helped you, you will of course have helped each other in so many
ways to grow and to mature. Those things are and will remain of such value
to you Linda, and Caleb, I am sure, would want you to go on using and
developing the things you have learned from each other.
Linda, your faith in Jehovah will sustain you, you are now feeling shocked,
and battered and now is the time to seek complete refuge in Jehovah. Please
allow those who are close to you to help and comfort you. Your spiritual and
physical energies will be at an all-time low, but Jehovah will raise you up.
My mind turns to Isaiah 40:29
Don't let go of Jehovah's Right Hand of Righteousness, Isa 41:10, in that
verse he emphasises three times that he will REALLY fortify, help and keep
fast hold of you, please allow him to do that. When you feel able, please
read and ponder over these verses and imagine that we are there with you
too, through the uniting power of Jehovah's word we can be close to you.
We embrace you and hold you in our hearts.
Your Brother and Sister and friends
Shirley and Edwin"