A man of integrity and goodwill

The Eagles boys Ernie (left), Nelson, Gesner, Gordie, Lawrence and Basil with their father Edgar.

           

     Why is it that life suddenly becomes more precious when we lose a loved one or a dear friend?

     This past week our family has been mourning the loss of another family member — my late husband's youngest brother, Ernie Eagles. 

     

     In my moments of reflection, I began to realize just how much these brothers had resembled each other; not only by their handsome, similar good looks (at least in their earlier years) — and their warm persona — but also in their strong and quiet composure. 

     The posted messages of condolence regarding my brother-in-law, contained such comments as — "respected", "influenced my life", "never heard an unkind word nor saw an unkind deed." 

He was obviously a man of integrity and goodwill. 

     What an example for his family and community! The legacy he left will live on in his family and through the lives of the many he touched. 

     Our Heavenly Father, who was Ernie's guide throughout his lifetime, had sovereignly determined Ernie's span of life on this earth, and had written it in His royal register. 

     "All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."

 — Psalm 139:16

     Our bodies, though fearfully and wonderfully made by our Creator (Psalm 139:14), finally do grow weary, and our heart ceases to function for various reasons. 
     
     I recently read these amazing facts: 

"Our hearts pump at a rate of 70-75 beats per minute. Weighing approximately 11 ounces, a healthy heart pumps 2,000 gallons of blood through 60,000 miles of blood vessels each day. Every day the heart creates enough energy to drive a truck 20 miles. In a lifetime, that is equivalent to driving to the moon and back. A healthy heart can do amazing things. But when it malfunctions, our whole body shuts down."  

     The same can happen to our "spiritual heart." When the word "heart" is spoken of in the Bible, it represents the centre of our emotions, thinking and reasoning. 

     It really is the "command centre" of our life. 

     Proverbs 4:23 says, "Guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." 

     To avoid a spiritual heart attack, we need to daily align our hearts with our Heavenly Father's, by reading His Word and keeping the door of communication wide open.

     
     I have posted a hyperlink to the website with Ernie Eagles' In Memorium above. It is also copied and pasted below.

— beulah