Zenebech Egzero- 1919-2006

Sometimes, even running has to take a back seat when things more serious come to pass in our lives. This past week has been one of those times.

My only remaining grandparent, the beloved Emama, passed away on Sunday Novemeber 5, 2006. She was blessed with many years of life and I was blessed to have her as my grandmother. She was a truly courageous woman, a very hard worker, and a person with great sense of humor. Being with her was one of the most joyful things I have experienced in my life. Even as an adult, her embrace had the magic of taking away any worries out of my mind.

There are many stories that I have heard recounted over the years that tell just what a unique person she was: hiding from the fascist Italian soldiers alone with a crying infant as others shunned her for fear of being captured, days of trekking on foot to retrieve my father and a young brother-in-law out of the countryside and into the city where they could get education, subduing with her bare hands a baboon that had terrorized the town of Nazareth, etc.

Emama was a hard worker but still relaxed enough to often laugh at herself. She cared for many who had no one to care for and she kept her faith even during trying times. Although she only had one child, my father, she was mother to many that she raised at her home and supported elsewhere.

Emama was a parishioner at Nazareth’s Medhanealem Church for several decades and had an annual tradition of gathering and feeding the homeless every year on the day of annual Medhanealem celebration. Emama passed away on November 5th and was buried on the grounds of Medhanealem Church on November 6th, which was the day of annual Medhanealem celebration. I believe this was a divine nod from above for a life exemplarily lived.

Emama, I will miss you and will always love you. I look forward to day I see you again up yonder.

1st Thessalonians 4:13-18

13Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage each other with these words.