Tribute To Bishop Bob Hawkson

A GOLDEN HEART STOPS BEATING.

TO THE PASSING SOUL OF BISHOP BOB HAWKSON

By: Mr,Mrs.Stephen A.Quaye

When a golden heart stops beating, we wail, sing dirges as we mourn the passing soul of the very person beloved as he may or not.

Mourning the soul that has just passed on is not just because of the pain he sustained through the trials and tribulations during his time in life. But we mourn the very person we have lost because of the fact that we will not see him or her again in life to share the word of God together, share the true principles of life in order for all to succeed the turbulence of this world.

That was why Soren Kierkegaard[1813-1855]Danish Philosopher once stated that,” death is the road we all have to take over the bridge of signs into eternity”. But Samuel Johnson [1709-1784] British Lexicographer, better explained it this way” it matters not how a man dies, but how he lives. The act of dying is not important as it lasts so short a time”. Tears roll down my cheeks freely as I tried to put myself together and report for work on February 28, 2013 in Toronto-Canada when the phone ranged. It was my wife Princess Osisiadan-Quaye, who called to remind me of the final internment of my beloved father in law Bishop Bob Hawkson.

I could not hold back the tears as it rolled down more freely when I started working. My heart was broken so much in that day that nothing I saw myself doing was going right.

For the whole day I remained quiet whiles trying at the same time to comfort myself in order not to commit any serious blunder to cause my head to roll at the work place.

But the more I recollected the finest moments I shared with my beloved father in law the more the tears flowed down my cheek tearing my heart apart. “Stephen, do not worry, I am expecting you come this December as you have promised. I am praying so that the good lord will make this day a blessed day for you to land safely so that together as one people in the lord gives thanks and praises to the almighty we shall expect you” was the last message I remember he sent to me on my face book.

But a week to my departed journey from Canada to Ghana, I had the shock of my life when my wife called me to break the bad news to me that my beloved father in law was gone.

“What a bad news for me this morning. Does it mean that Nana Bishop, as we used to call him was reported dead?” That was the question I asked myself after the sad news got to me.

Still in shock, after hearing my wife announcing the death on the phone to me, I quickly flipped my laptop and started browsing for the news whiles sobbing calling his name as if he was there to speak to me.

Lo and behold the breaking news was on Myjoyonline, peacefmonline and Ghanaweb as well as other networks.

From that day, I never saw joy and happiness in my life even when I spent the three weeks vacation at home it was without any joy or any happiness because I missed my father in law so much. Ever since his passing on December 23, 2012 I constantly share some tears in my private room, sob occasionally whiles working and sometimes go without food for a day as I tried to recall one of the happiest moments I enjoyed with my father in law who was a great man of God, before passing away.

My wife Princess Osisiadan Quaye and I have agreed to tie the knot on January 1, 2011 and with the support of our families got the back of Bishop Bob Hawkson to officiate and bless our marriage which he gave all that he had that made the occasion a great one.

He in addition accommodated us for the two weeks period in his plush mansion at West Legon whiles we spent the honey moon in his mansion and received counseling and continues prayer and blessing. It was because of his humility, respect for human rights, equal rights and justice, trust, honest and dedication to every individual as a man of God his contributions to the sick and poor, especially the part he played in helping people to adapt into the Christian family, I felt the sudden passing of Bishop Bob Hawkson deserve a notice.

I had always been a humble son in law and was not shocked when I realized there were tens of people out there whom he was serving as father in law or godfather to them. I appreciated his wit, eloquent thoughts and unassuming manner.

It was greatly amused at the way he supported some of us to fit into the system of the Christian family but never skewed stories to wrongly defend anybody when one does wrong. He says it as it was and offer advice there after for one to avoid later occurrence.

In fact he was a godfather to his family colleagues, clients and strangers who got lost and found themselves in his building. He was always remembered with the teases he shared with a person who eats too much food especially fatty foods and gets bloating stomachs by raising the shirt to look like a pregnant woman. Bishop Bob Hawkson, was more fit at his age 64 years and was delivering the message of hope to his congregation when the bad news occurred so I was shocked to hear he never recovered from his ailment and his passing. His death was a shock to me and I fear his unique style of discharging his duties diligently will never be duplicated. That is the way it should be.

I appreciated Bishop Bob Hawkson as tens of other Christians and non Christians did and are grateful to God for the days I spent with such a gracious and God fearing gentleman.

Finally with a saying from an English Poet Edmond Spencer [1552-1599]”Sleep after toil, port after stormy seas ease, death after life does greatly please”, I will like to say Nana Bishop Bob Hawkson has conquered death which he thought and find it least of all evils and resting with my senior sister in law Angeles Osisiadan[a.k.a baby/Akosua Addai] who also died on December 24, 2012 in Ghana after short illness in the bosom of the almighty Lord. May his soul rest in peace Amen.