............Elder William Lester "Bill" Johnson one of my adopted fatherWhen I arrived in Bermuda some five years ago I came into contact with a wonderful group of people. Most who had taken on the difficult responsibility of making me feel at home, while on the island.
There were yet, within that group, an even smaller group that is very dear to my heart. These exceptionally special people surrounded me with their love and took on the awesome responsibility of providing me with parenting guidance; for which I will be eternally grateful.
Unfortunately, one of my fathers William Lester Johnson, who is affectionately known as Bill Johnson, the committed husband of Cynthia Johnson and the dedicated father of Tracy Johnson was laid to rest today.
For quite some time elder Bill Johnson was in a fierce bottle with a severe heart condition. I can assure everyone that Bill was not suffering from a broken heart; for in his time on earth, he was surrounded, by a wife who constantly cherished and cared for this stern yet soft spoken well mannered gentleman, a daughter who loved and did all in her power to make him proud of her, a church family (St. Georges Seventh Day Adventist Church) including Pastor Burton-Schnüll who often openly expressed their admiration him; but most of all, He has a heavenly father who loved him unconditionally and publicly demonstrated his love for him, with the numerous miracles he preformed in Elder Johnson's life. For on many occasions when the doctors had given up on Bill Johnson, and declare that there is no hope; Jehovah often defy the odds and ensure Elder Johnson’s make a full recovery: miracles which the St. Georges Seventh Day Adventist Church Elder were grateful for. After all Jehovah promises us that he will not allow us more than we can bear.
Bill Johnson, his wife Cynthia and his daughter Tracy had been good to me; they afforded me access to every thing they own. They showered me with love and appreciation, they also let me into their life, their heart and their home.
It is for this reason, that I take the pleasure to celebration Bill Johnson’s life, a man whom I love dearly. And it is with a heart of gratitude, that I solemnly bow my head and offer up a prayer to Jehovah, on behalf of Cynthia Bill’s wife and his daughter Tracy. I know they will miss him very much.
The only sorrow I feel, is for the people who had never had the opportunity to have been touched by bill’s life. Today I rejoice because all of my memory of Bill Johnson seems only to fill my heart with happiness and gratitude for the man who I will see on that bright and glorious morning when "the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall raise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. Until then, my heart will go on singing, until them with joy I will carry on, until that day when I behold that city, until that day God calls me home.
There were yet, within that group, an even smaller group that is very dear to my heart. These exceptionally special people surrounded me with their love and took on the awesome responsibility of providing me with parenting guidance; for which I will be eternally grateful.
Unfortunately, one of my fathers William Lester Johnson, who is affectionately known as Bill Johnson, the committed husband of Cynthia Johnson and the dedicated father of Tracy Johnson was laid to rest today.
For quite some time elder Bill Johnson was in a fierce bottle with a severe heart condition. I can assure everyone that Bill was not suffering from a broken heart; for in his time on earth, he was surrounded, by a wife who constantly cherished and cared for this stern yet soft spoken well mannered gentleman, a daughter who loved and did all in her power to make him proud of her, a church family (St. Georges Seventh Day Adventist Church) including Pastor Burton-Schnüll who often openly expressed their admiration him; but most of all, He has a heavenly father who loved him unconditionally and publicly demonstrated his love for him, with the numerous miracles he preformed in Elder Johnson's life. For on many occasions when the doctors had given up on Bill Johnson, and declare that there is no hope; Jehovah often defy the odds and ensure Elder Johnson’s make a full recovery: miracles which the St. Georges Seventh Day Adventist Church Elder were grateful for. After all Jehovah promises us that he will not allow us more than we can bear.
Bill Johnson, his wife Cynthia and his daughter Tracy had been good to me; they afforded me access to every thing they own. They showered me with love and appreciation, they also let me into their life, their heart and their home.
It is for this reason, that I take the pleasure to celebration Bill Johnson’s life, a man whom I love dearly. And it is with a heart of gratitude, that I solemnly bow my head and offer up a prayer to Jehovah, on behalf of Cynthia Bill’s wife and his daughter Tracy. I know they will miss him very much.
The only sorrow I feel, is for the people who had never had the opportunity to have been touched by bill’s life. Today I rejoice because all of my memory of Bill Johnson seems only to fill my heart with happiness and gratitude for the man who I will see on that bright and glorious morning when "the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall raise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. Until then, my heart will go on singing, until them with joy I will carry on, until that day when I behold that city, until that day God calls me home.
