Watching Uncle Eddie

Nov 11, 2013 by Jim and Jerolyn Bogear

Uncle Eddie, my hero in many ways growing up. Although Uncle Ed’s home was quite different than ours, it was a wonderful adventure to go visit and learn much about life. Most of us have an Uncle Ed in our families, and at times he seems bigger than life to a young boy.

Uncle Ed passed away from cancer a couple of weeks ago. He lost the fight but did not give up the battle. He was always a big guy who knew how to live life to the fullest, work hard, and take care of his family. I was glad I was family and always felt safe with Uncle Ed around.

My first job was de-tassling corn. This was where we would walk through the rows of a cornfield and take the top off of the corn. They now have machines but back in the day they used us kids. I was not quite 14 and about to enter high school. Uncle Ed, and his wife, Aunt Marilyn, had 4 girls of their own. And yet they opened their home for my brother and I to stay at their house, several miles from our home, during the week and work this job.  They were so kind to help us and be family to us.

I have many stories about Uncle Ed that do not need to be shared in this blog, but one I have told publicly I will share here. He taught me to be a man and be secure in the way God made me.

One rare cooler summer Indiana evening Uncle Ed and Aunt Marilyn were standing on their porch. Their closest neighbor was probably ¼ – ½ mile away. They lived in the country with corn and wheat fields all around. While they were standing there, a car pulled up and stopped just off the road on their rather long gravel drive to their house.  As they stood and watched soon something was flying out of the window of the car. Uncle Ed turned to my Aunt and said, “Look at that Marilyn; they are throwing something (he presumed bottles) out onto our yard. Now I wasn’t going to report any kids doing something they shouldn’t be, but if they are going to trash someone’s property, well…” Uncle Ed walked out to the car, and tapped on the window. There were two couples in the car. The “kid” rolled down the window, and Uncle Ed told them to get out and pick up those bottles and head on down the road. The “kid” said, “Who are you?” and rolled up the window. Did I mention how big my Uncle Ed was? If the young man was thinking straight, he would have gotten out of the car, picked up the bottles, and headed on his way, but he must not have been thinking clearly. He obviously did not know my Uncle Ed.

Uncle Ed reached down and promptly pulled out what he was packing…this was way back in the day. He took the revolver in his hand and tapped on the window. He said, “My name is Ed Miller. Who do you think you are?” With that the young man and his friends jumped out of the car, picked up what they had thrown on the lawn, and sped away. That must have been hilarious to watch, because it was sure funny just hearing the story being told. I must admit I wish I could have witnessed this first hand.

Now, you may be thinking that isn’t the best story to share, or the most politically correct. I am not very politically correct but Uncle Eddie most positively was not.  Personally, I would have definitely handled it differently, but it taught me much as I was watching from a distance and learning life from one of my uncles.

He knew what respect was and how people and property should be treated. I was reminded to respect other people and their property.

Uncle Ed taught me a lot about life in many ways. He treated people with respect and expected to be treated the same way. He knew who he was and was secure in how God had made him.

Thanks Uncle Ed for mentoring me about life in ways that you may never have known, but I was watching you both up close and from a distance.

• Who are you influencing?
• Who is watching you and what are they learning about life?
• Who do you need to mentor today and invest in their lives to make a difference?
• How can you help mold and make someone into the person God has designed them to become?

~Jim