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𝐀 𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐂𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄: 𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐌𝐘 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐎


𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐑𝟎𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍
In a world often preoccupied with grand gestures and public accolades, the true heroes can sometimes go unnoticed. This article is a heartfelt tribute to one such hero — my uncle, 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐉𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐊𝐮𝐞𝐫. As I reflect on my life and the influences that have shaped me, I realize that his unwavering support, love, and resilience have played a pivotal role in my journey. Through his sacrifices and the values he instilled in me, he has become a guiding light in my life. In celebrating him as “𝐀 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞,” I hope to shed light on the profound impact he has had not just on our family, but on the community around him. This is a story of love, sacrifice, and the quiet strength that defines true heroism.

𝐀 𝐆𝐔𝐈𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓
From the age of ten, I have been incredibly close to him. He has been my guiding angel; when I am sick, he is my best doctor because he is a medic. He has always provided for me, clothing me when I need it, and offering spiritual guidance as a man of God whose wisdom is a gift from above and i found this quotes so elevating.

“A father’s love is forever imprinted on his children’s hearts.”
— Unknown
“It is not flesh and blood but the heart which makes us fathers and sons.”
— Johann Friedrich von Schiller

Those who know John well understand his humility. He is someone who would never intentionally wrong anyone. With a calm spirit and a loving voice, he embodies the best qualities of a father. He has never laid a hand on me or my siblings, and his personality encourages learning rather than fear. He is not a dictator who forces people to follow his commands.

𝐀 𝐓𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐑
This is a dad who works tirelessly to put food on our table. During our time in the Dimma Refugee Camp, he worked as a nurse in the main hospital. While others complained about basic needs, we, his children, never did. We enjoyed the best meals in the camp, and I cannot recall a single day when he complained about us or let us down. He was everything we could ever ask God to provide, time and again.

In 2012, he managed to take us to Uganda. I vividly remember that I was never chased home for school fees; he always ensured my siblings and I attended the best schools. When the civil war broke out in South Sudan, he lost his job, but he never let that deter him. He constantly thought about our future. Despite the challenges, we never dropped out of school. We moved to the Kiryandongo district in Northern Uganda, settling in the Bweyale Refugee Camp. He continued paying our school fees, and to my surprise, I found myself at Panyadoli Self Help Secondary School as the only Nuer boy among other South Sudanese (Acholi) and Ugandan students in the boarding section. Later, more Nuer children joined me in early 2013.

𝐀 𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐂𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐒𝐀𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐄
Father John is indeed an amazing dad. He has sacrificed his precious time for the sake of our independence. He was among the Jiech-Amaer and was taken as a child soldier, fighting for South Sudan’s freedom. I remember one day he recounted a harrowing story of how he narrowly escaped death while traveling from Jebel Juba (now Juba City) to Ethiopia. On that journey, they had no water to drink or food to eat. To my shock, he shared that he survived by drinking his own urine and eating wild snails. He described how people were forced to urinate so they could drink it, and if someone failed to produce urine, they risked being killed by fellow soldiers. Miraculously, he managed to survive that terrible ordeal.

𝐀𝐍 𝐈𝐑𝐑𝐄𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐄𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐆𝐔𝐑𝐄
In conclusion, as his children, we could never fully repay him for all he has done. This year, I felt compelled to share his unrecognized contributions to our family and community. He is a man worth celebrating. He has raised not only a family but a nation and a community at large.

Dad, please know that you are irreplaceable. If God could offer us another choice, it would always be you. Happy New Year! May you live long.

We love you; you have made us who we are today.
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This article is a personal piece written by:
Buay James Hoth Reath
Chairperson, Duany Youth Union Steering Committee & Chairperson of Wanding Community Youth Union Worldwide.