CNJ+ April 2025

SO KIND BE THY HEART, A DEAR REMEMBRANCE OF UNCLE PETE By Richard Mabey Jr.

Mourning is one of the most painful, eerie, haunting, heart-wrenching emotions of all time. In the process of mourning the passing of a close loved one, it can seem to tear a person’s heart in two. Yes, there is comfort in know ing that there is a loving God, guiding the universe. Yet still, the pains of mourning, can at times, seem most unbearable. My father went Home to be with the Lord in the early morning of the twelfth of May of 2006. Over 18 years have now passed since that fateful day. Still, I so very dearly miss the man who taught me the wild and wonderful ways of nature. To quietly approach a white-tailed deer, without being noticed. To find north, through the secret hints in a forest. And to love and respect, the way God cre ated the circle of life. During the couple of weeks, after my dear father’s passing, I became practically dysfunctional. I had been writing for a big daily news paper in Chambersburg, Pennsyl vania at the time. Mostly writing feature stories. But something was not clicking with my creative out let. I would look at a blank com puter screen for hours. The words simply would not come.

talk at the old kitchen table, eating breakfast. Most of the time, my cousin Peter would have already eaten breakfast. Cousin Peter is an incredible early riser. Most of the time, awakening before the sun has even risen. There are very few people, who I have ever known, that knew the Bible as well as Uncle Pete did. He could recite passages, word for word, with amazing accuracy. In our breakfast talks, Uncle Pete, would share with me his philoso phy, his outlook, his perspectives on all of life. Not only did Uncle Pete know his Bible, inside and out, he truly lived it. He was one of the kindest individuals to whom I have ever known. Uncle Pete’s breakfast talks im mensely helped me with healing from the depth of mourning that I was feeling from the loss of my fa ther. Uncle Pete had a great insight into human nature. He deeply un derstood a person’s relationship to God and God’s relationship to an individual. Uncle Pete held a deep respect and immense love for all of life itself. He served for many years as an Elder in his church. Sadly, in April of 2018, the angels called Uncle Pete Home to Heaven. In reflection, as I am about to turn 71

A photo of dear, kind Uncle Pete, sitting at the old kitchen table at Knothe Farm.

Then, a miracle came into my life. In that last week of May of 2006, my uncle, Peter Knothe called me. He asked me if I wanted to come out to his farm in Randolph for a few weeks, to help him and his son with some of the farm chores. I remember I was hesitant at the time, and asked Uncle Pete if I could think about it for a bit. He told me that would be okay, to take time to think about it. My Editor at the newspaper was very understanding. She told me it might do me good to take the time to visit with my uncle for a while. Long story short, I took Uncle Pete up on his kind offer. Uncle Pete and his son, Peter, are two of the hardest working men whom I have ever known in my life. They were both up at the crack of dawn and worked hard, till the sun set in the west of dear old Knothe Farm. What I remember most about my few weeks, working at Knothe Farm with Uncle Pete, during the early Summer of 2006, is the time we had to

years old, as I write this true-life story, a certain appreciation for Uncle Pete fills my heart. After my father passed away, Uncle Pete became my adopted father. He didn’t miss a beat. I am immensely grateful to him. I miss him very much. Do you know someone who is mourning the loss of a close loved one? Please do consider reaching out to them, above and beyond the traditional sympathy card. Love has a powerful healing potential. It is greater than any pill or tonic on the market today. Love can be as gentle as the petal of a rose. And yet, be more powerful than a fast back, mid-engine Porsche. Never un derestimate the incredible power of love. Never, ever doubt what the loving heart can accomplish. When love and faith in God, combine together, ex pect a miracle. Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He hosts a YouTube Channel titled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@gmail.com.

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