Jack
December 1, 2008 | Nurturing Family
Thanksgiving was amazing. I’ll show pics on Wednesday. Tables of food. 115 Eller’s in one room. Basketball. Dominoes. Lots of conversation.
And Jack.
Underneath all of the festivity and fun was the underlying thought of Jack. He’s not a true Eller, just like me, but the Ellers have this way of bringing you in so that you become an Eller in just a short time. So even though his name is Jack Hobbs, he’s one of the most loved of the Eller family. He swept Dessie Eller off her feet over 50 years ago when she was only 16. They’ve been sweethearts ever since. He’s been an Eller ever since.
Jack was is a preacher. He’s a tall, handsome man with a full head of hair, a loud laugh, and a lot of love. Sometimes he’s bossy, especially in the kitchen at Thanksgiving. ♥ He has two daughters, four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
Uncle Jack and great-nephew, Ryan Eller
For the past forty years (until he retired recently) he’s preached every Sunday about Christ. He’s unashamed in his faith. It’s not unusual to be pulled aside by Jack at a holiday gathering to talk about God.
He loves the topic.
He’s preached the funeral of the few Ellers that have passed away. He’s shown up in crisis at the bedside to encourage when people are sick. He’s prayed the prayer at every Thanksgiving or Christmas get-together for the 29 years I’ve been an Eller.
And now he’s sick. The news is really negative, and we hope for a miracle. He’s undergoing experimental treatment for cancer at M.D. Anderson in Houston. He’s lost his hair. He had to sit in a comfy blue chair brought in at the school cafeteria where we all gathered.
Though he’s sick, not a lot changed this year. He still said the prayer. He was still laughing and cracking jokes. Still a little bossy when it came time to mash potatoes for 115. Still pulling aside younger members of the family to talk about his favorite topic–God.
After 40 years of preaching sermons, he’s living the very best sermon I’ve ever heard: He’s trusting that God is on the scene no matter the outcome.
He is showing us all that he has believed every word he’s ever spoken about faith.
Christ is his rock, his strength. Heaven is real and eternity is forever, and one day he will be with God and his loved ones and no one can separate them. There is joy that makes no sense, but overflows, and peace that passes understanding.
As he prayed this year I saw his loved ones take a deep breath, tears in their eyes. We don’t know the outcome.
I’m praying, and I’d love for you to join all of the Eller family as we believe together. But this Thanksgiving as I thought about all the things for which I’m thankful, I am grateful for an uncle (in-law) named Jack who loves Jesus and lives a life of extraordinary faith.
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Oh, Suzanne! What a special testimony of a life lived for the Lord. I am saddened for you and the rest of the family. I will certainly pray for Jack. I wish I had known him. May the Lord surprise him with a miracle. Blessings to you all…
December 1st, 2008 at 11:39 am“After 40 years of preaching sermons, he’s living the very best sermon I’ve ever heard: He’s trusting that God is on the scene no matter the outcome.”
Now that is an AWESOME testimony!
I pray that the Lord will continue to bless your Uncle Jack with many more opportunities to share his love of Christ with others!
Praise God for this man, who loves His Lord unconditionally!
May the Lord heal his body and make him whole.
Give your uncle a hug for me!
December 1st, 2008 at 12:05 pmBeautiful post! What a lovely tribute.
December 1st, 2008 at 12:11 pmSuzie
What an amazing testimony! Thank you for sharing. I heart him and he’s not my Uncle (in-law).
I will be praying for you all. God is in control!
Ps.
I spent last night at Riley hospital with a dear friend. Her son, John (a senior at Purdue) is in his last hours of life there. So this post you share……hits home for me today.
Hang in there.
December 3rd, 2008 at 12:12 pmWhat an incredible blessing to have one so close to you who has lived and is living the true life of faith!
December 3rd, 2008 at 1:28 pmSuzie,
December 8th, 2008 at 8:01 pmWhat a wonderful tribute to a wonderful man! I, too, am only an Eller not by blood, but by love. Jack married Stan and me 28 years ago, and I remember it like yesterday. He said the words with love and meaning, and stressed to us there is 3 in the marriage, not 2! He is a strong person and a great example of a Christian. Thanks for sharing him with others.
Suzie, what you say about Jack is so true. I have been blessed to get to know this wonderful man and his family for the past two years. They are just like family to me and my family and I thank God that he has given them to me, I continue to pray for him and won’t stop praying for him. I’m not ready for him to go anywhere. He is so knowledgeable about the Bible that I want to learn as much as I can from him. He and Dessie – well I just have so much love for them and I’m very thankful for them both I would like to ask one thing, if you and everyone else will also remember Dessie in your prayers this is very hard on her also. I can’t even imagine what she is going thru. Thank you Suzie for sharing love you and miss you.
December 15th, 2008 at 2:36 pm