My Appuka’s and Ammachi’s Journey Together.

Isa 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ This was one of my Ammachi’s favourite verses.

In the year 1930, on the 04th of December, a child was born to A G John and Aleyamma John in the small sleepy village of Poovathur. The proud parents proudly named the child Attasseril John Johnson, A year and 3 months later, in the year 1932, on the 31st of March, another child was born not far from Poovathur. About 40 kms away, a child was born to Panickaruveedu P C Joseph and Soshamma Joseph. The youngest of the girls born in the family, the parents named her Ammini. Little did these two sets of parents know that almost a quarter of a century later, these two little babes would be joined together in Holy Matrimony. And thus on the 13th of September, 1956 or as daddy would say, “Malayala massam, Chingam Onnu”, our appuka and ammachi started their journey together – a journey that was forged for the next 43 years! An illustrious life span of a soldier who served the nation and God – a life of testimony of the women of Proverbs 31.

We are here today to Glorify God in connection with my ammachi. But the life of my appuka and my ammachi was such that, we cannot talk of them separately. They lived together, they complemented each other and most of all they completed each other!! Their story would be incomplete without them together.

Their life together, took them on a long journey across the length and breadth of India, starting from Bangalore, through the Peninsula, atop the Deccan Plateau, to the Himalayas, to the plains of UP, through the deserts of Rajasthan and finally to God’s own country, back to their roots in Kerala.

During this journey of 43 years together, the Lord blessed appuka and ammachi with 4 children and 2 grandchildren. A third grandchild and a great grandson were born after dad went to be with the Lord. 43 years of guiding, nurturing, disciplining, caring loving, all with the sole objective – that we their children would grow up to love the Lord and learn to serve Him at all times. Teaching us valuable life lessons too, to ensure that we were always transparent in what we did, not running away from the battles of life but rather facing it like a soldier, learning to respect authority and most importantly knowing that respect is not demanded for, but rather commanded. Their lives taught us that when the going gets tough, the tough get going!

On that fateful day on the 27th of September, 1999, our Lord decided that it was time for His beloved son to return home. Indeed the most shocking moment of our lives. But the Lord gave our dear ammachi another 21 years and exactly 7 months to the date – till the 27th of April when he decided to call His beloved daughter home. These 21 years and 7 months were indeed blessed ones during these years the Lord gave us the opportunity to focus all our attention on her – our lives revolved around her.

During these 21 years and 7 months the Lord kept her safe from numerous untoward incidents. Occasions that could have caused her bodily harm, illness or discomforts were many. But the Lord promised and kept His promise of Psalm 121 because He loved her and she loved Him. Her desire was that she should not be a burden on anyone and should not be bedridden. And that’s exactly what the Lord gave her. He took her in the twinkling of an eye.

Today she is with the Lord whom she loved. My Ammachi did not leave her home, but has gone on to her home!! She loved others and she grabbed the love of others. She is no more with us but, the legacy she left behind will always be with us…

May His Name Be Glorified.