We Will Serve Jehovah, Our Whole Family All Our Days
Our father, Brother Paul Wu, was from Danyang County, Jiangsu Province. He was born on April 15, 1950. On March 5, 2020, he fell asleep in the Lord's bosom due to a heart attack.
Because our grandfather suffered a stroke and was bedridden very early on, leaving behind seven children, the family had many mouths to feed. As the eldest son, our father bore a heavy responsibility. Yet he was optimistic and enterprising; not only was he excellent in both study and sports, but he also supervised his younger siblings' schoolwork. Rough work such as washing clothes and lighting the fire to cook, and fine work such as mending and sewing on buttons—he did everything by himself, self-reliant and strong, and took delight in it. As we brothers recall today, our father's broad and lively disposition came entirely from our grandmother's great love for the Lord, having grown up from childhood in an atmosphere of loving the Lord and in a healthy church life.
After graduating from National Taiwan Normal University, our father served full-time as a teacher. His teaching was lively and witty, full of humor, and he was deeply loved and respected by his students. At the age of thirty-five, the Lord raised up the circumstances, and our father completely laid down his profession and ran with all his heart the way of serving the Lord. He held himself to a high standard out of a heart that loved the Lord. He was faithful and sincere toward people, prudent in handling matters, with an extraordinary memory and far-reaching foresight—all because he saw the vision, chose the good part, and cared only for God's economy and God's interests on the earth.
In dealing with us, our father combined leniency and strictness. When we did something good, he was not sparing in his praise; when we did wrong, though he loved us deeply, he disciplined us earnestly. Now we two have suddenly lost our support; at first we were at a loss, and then our grief could not be restrained. When we think that, in his most painful moments, neither of us brothers could be at his side, our tears gush forth like a spring and our regret is beyond words. From now on we can never again have the chance to pat his back or massage him for him, and this grieves us all the more. Our father's loving-kindness is as boundless as the vast heavens!
Father, we love you! Please rest assured! Though we do not match your wisdom and ability, we will surely serve Jehovah, our whole family all our days, loving the Lord our God with all our heart, all our soul, all our being, and all our strength, and living a glorious church life.