I said good-bye to a friend tonight who lost his life to cancer. His name was Jose' Olivas. He was from Mexico. Wife-Hilda, daughter-Deisy, son-Junior. Hard worker. Strict father. Loving husband. Loved Jesus.
Here are some random things I remember about my friend:
He had the pointiest-toed cowboy boots I've ever seen. It hurt me just to look at them.
When I first met him, he creeped me out because he hugged me and kissed me on the cheek all the time. You know, American girls don't take too kindly to that most of the time. Then I realized that that was part of his culture and he "didn't mean anything by it".
He talked a lot. When he first came to my Sunday School class, he pretty much took over the discussion of one subject and talked about a completely different subject - for awhile. Then I figured out that this guy needed to preach, that the Lord put that need in him. Before he died, Jose' was leadinga Sunday School class and also translated the sermons for the Spanish speaking people at our church. He was our Spanish Ministry Director.
Jose' knew how to throw a party. Or should I say, he knew how to tell Hilda how to throw a party. Jose's family introduced me to Tres Leches Cake - and I will never be the same again. Jose' put out a Mexican spread to-die-for. He's the only friend I've ever had who provided live music at a party. He loved being good to people.
The day before he died, Jose' was still getting up on his own to go to the restroom. He was a man's man to the end. What a fighter!
And so I leave you with these words from the Bible about my dear, sweet friend, Jose':
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." --II Timothy 4:7-8
"He peleado la buena batalla, he terminado la carrera, me he mantenido en la fe. Por lo demás me espera la corona de justicia que el Señor, el juez justo, me otorgará en aquel día; y no sólo a mí, sino también a todos los que con amor hayan esperado su venida." --II Timoteo 4:7-8
Bueno adiós Jose. Le veré en el cielo.