***A Tribute to my Uncle and brother, Eric Ayukawo Ayuk***
The sad news about the passing to eternity of my dear Uncle, Eric Ayukawo Ayuk came as an unpleasant surprise through an early morning telephone call. I had to set aside the grief to write this tribute in memory of my youngest Uncle that I always preferred to call a brother. Uncle Eric and I are close in age. He was more like an older brother than an uncle. It is sad that someone that we know was so full of life and hope for better days ahead would transition so suddenly without saying goodbye to his loved ones. Hardly could it be predictable that we would be sharing this platform today with others as we jointly participate in the unenviable but likely unavoidable task of writing a most deserved tribute to Eric Ayukawo Ayuk, who was the last child of his parents, at least not while he was still in his youth.
It was always a privilege and an honor to call and speak with my Uncle and brother. Such was the case just a few weeks before Uncle Eric was admitted for follow up at a local hospital in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Uncle Eric was very cheerful and he had the grace of sharing his unending smiles and his optimistic perspective of life with others. At the end of our last conversation, there was no reason or indication for me to think that the call on that day would be our final opportunity to communicate. Through Uncle Eric’s transition to eternity, another caring, humble and hardworking father and husband has exited the earthly stage after honoring his invitation to an unavoidable call from our Creator. While we mourn and shed tears of sadness as family and friends because you are no longer with us physically, as Christians and members of a believing community, we find solace and comfort in the fact that we are witnesses to acclaim your eternal journey to meet our Lord.
With gratitude, we thank our Creator for the unique opportunity and honor that He gave us to share this world and space with Uncle Eric for four decades plus five years, three months and twenty three days. We are grateful for the gift of an exceptional life that came to our family. It was a privilege and a blessing to have had such a wonderful and inspiring son, brother, Uncle, friend, mentor, husband and father amongst us.
Uncle Eric, without any doubt, will live on in our hearts and will be remembered for those endearing smiles, his humility, his consideration and his respect for others. Together, let us celebrate Uncle Eric’s life with grace in recognition that he lived life and positively impacted others to the best of his abilities while on earth.
Our hearts and prayers are with Uncle Eric’s children and his wife. May we all find the fortitude to bear this enormous loss and surprising demise that is now Uncle Eric’s .
Uncle Eric, you were a special person in your own way to so many individuals who now mourn and will miss you dearly.
Farewell, my dear Uncle and brother!!
Good Night and Safe return to your father in heaven.
We loved you beyond measure but our God and Creator loves you more. Whereas we may have lost you here physically, we rejoice in the fact that heaven has just won an additional arrivant to the heavenly kingdom.
We wish you peace and rest in the Lord`s bosom.
Collins
