Robert Howard Robertson, Jr - Online Memorial Website

Our Heavenly Father, we gather in your presence today, to thank you for your gift to us, for the life of Buddy Robertson.   Comfort all the family and friends during this time of loss, and help us to understand that our loss is heaven’s gain. Comfort Buddy and give him the eternal peace and rest that he so richly deserves.

May we be reminded of all the blessings that have been ours because we were touched by such a remarkable man.   Turn our tears into cheers and our frowns into smiles as we celebrate this life that was given to us.

We pray these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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I would like to begin my remarks by reading the 23^rd Psalm.

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

He leads me beside still waters.”

 

“He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness

for His names sake.”

 

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for you are with me:

Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

 

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows.”

 

“Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

 

The valley of the shadow of death is usually associated with the end of life, but John Bunyon in Pilgrim’s Progress, places it in the middle where it rightfully belongs. In fact, you will notice in this Psalm, the “the valley of death” falls in the middle of the 23^rd chapter indicating that is not an end in itself, but just another challenge in our overall journey. In fact, in life, there is not one valley; there are many, falling between the pastures and the mountain tops, where we find intermittent rest.

 

The valleys bring to mind those circumstances when we are going through life’s trials: the day an employer said “clean out” your desk; when your teen-age daughter told you she was pregnant; when your spouse left you; or, when your doctor tells you, you have an incurable disease.

 

These are the dark days, when we lose all perspective, when we say in despair, “it’s no use, I can’t take it anymore”.

 

As buddy journeyed through his valleys, not once in all the times I spoke to him in person or on the phone, did I ever hear him utter the words “why me?”. He accepted the hand that was dealt him and maintained his love for people and life itself. He never said this is “unfair”. Instead he was an inspiration to all of us. His sense of humor and determination helped him navigate one valley after another.

 

“The path by which God takes us often seems to lead away from our good, causing us to believe we missed a turn and taken the wrong road. That’s because most of us have been taught to believe that if we are on the right track, God’s goodness will always translate into earthly good: that He will heal, deliver, and exempt us from disease and pain; that we will have money in the bank, kids who turn out well, nice clothes, a comfortable living, and a leisurely retirement. In that version of life everyone turns out a winner, nobody loses in business, fails in marriage, or lives in poverty.”* Sort of a Norman Rockwell existence.

 

“But that’s a pipe dream, far removed from the biblical perspective that God’s love often leads us down roads where earthly comforts fail us.”*

 

“When we come to the end of all valleys we’ll understand that every path has been selected out of all possible options, for our ultimate good.”*

 

“God, in fact, could not have taken us any other way. No other routes could have been as safe and as certain as the one by which we came. And if only we could see the path as God has always seen it, we would select it as well.”*

 

Would Buddy have ever wanted to exchange his mountain tops for any of his valleys. I don’t think so.

He enjoyed life. He enjoyed his many friends. He enjoyed his mountain tops: he enjoyed the mountain top of the family he was born into – two loving parents and sisters, June and Lois. Lois adored him from the time she was old enough to know she had a brother. One of the most memorable days of her life was when Buddy came home from the Korean war. He chose to surprise them (Buddy always liked surprises) by showing up unexpectedly early one morning while Lois (in her early teens) and her dad were getting breakfast (her mother had already gone to work). Her dad heard a car door close in front of the house, and there was Buddy. 

 

The mountain top of a loving and devoted wife, Judy; the mountain top of three great kids (Laura, Robbie, & Curt) that he was so proud of and are such a reflection of his love and devotion; the mountain top of three wonderful sons and daughter-in-laws (Angel, Ingrid, &Tonya) that he thought the world of; and, the mountain top of eight marvelous grandchildren (Michele, Justin, Tiffany, Janine, Kristina, Jessica, Isabelle, & Hunter). He was such a proud grandpa; and the mountain tops of countless trips with family and many, many friends. He constantly put others first. Never once in any relationship did he consider “what’s in it for me”.    He was always giving of his time and treasure. I never heard him speak ill of others. If you only met him a few minutes, you would fall in love him. He was genuine. I am confident that he would never have exchanged one of these mountain top experiences for one valley.

 

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As the Psalm continues, “Even though I walk through the valley of shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me”.  David knew his shepherd was by his side.   God was with him in the midst of his fears.

 

After we left visiting Buddy in January, Lois and I commented that he seemed fearful. I don’t think he was fearful of death, he was fearful of having to stop living. He had a zest for living. He loved life, family and friends.   He squeezed every ounce of life he possibly could out of his disease ravaged body.

 

If you notice in Psalm 23, half way through the Psalm, the grammar shifts from the third person to first person. In the first part of the Psalm, David was speaking about God; in the last half of the Psalm he speaks to Him in the valley. His presence was David’s comfort. Just as God’s presence is our comfort. It as though the valley gave him a new intimacy with God.

 

The Bible tells us, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose”, Romans 8:28. We can take refuge in the fact that God has a master plan, and even though we may not know all the answers, He can bring good out of a difficult situation.

 

In this Lenten season it is important to remember that the risen Savior provided a way of escape for all of us. Death is merely an ending of one chapter in the Book of Life. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, though they may die, yet shall they live”, John 11:25. The apostle Paul told us in I Thessalonians 4:13, 14, “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus”.

 

So we are not without hope. Jesus further said in John 14:1-3 “Let not heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in Me. In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am there you may be also.”

 

And back to Psalm 23 “And I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever”.

 

I can see Buddy now, as he arrives at the pearly gates and St. Peter greets him and they begin walking the streets of gold. St. Peter stops in front of a mansion and tells Buddy this is his heavenly home. Buddy turns to St. Peter, and says “Pete, I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but you can have the mansion, just give me an RV.”

 

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After my remarks Curt, Robbie, and Jessica gave very moving eulogies to their Dad and grandpa. You could not help but realize this was a man who invested heavily in his family and it was very evident by the legacy he has left behind.

 

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I read the following poem in conclusion:

I read of a man who stood to speak

at the funeral of a friend.

He referred to the dates on her tombstone

From the beginning………….to the end.

He noted that first came her date of birth

And spoke the following date with tears,

But he said what mattered most of all

Was the DASH between those years.

For that dash represents all the time

That she spent alive on earth……

And now, only those who loved her

Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not how much we own;

The cars….the house…..the cash,

What matters is how we live and love

And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard….

Are there things you would like to change?

For you never know how much time is left,

That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough

To consider what’s true and real,

And always try to understand

The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,

And show appreciation more

And love the people in our lives

Like we never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect

And more often where a smile……

Remembering that this special dash

Might only last a little while.

So when your eulogy’s being read

With your life’s actions to rehash…..

Would you be proud of the things they say

About you spent your DASH?