Stories from Timbo's life!

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    One day, at the height of summer, my niece came over with her bike in tow and excitedly asked if we could go for a ride as she was a brand new  biker.  Despite being weary, I found myself  on my rusty old bike minutes later.  We soon turned onto Robin where we  were met with a team of kids enjoying the sunny Alaskan day.  Timbo effortlessly biked up to us with a 1,000 watt smile and gently asked my niece "Are you learning how to ride a bike?"  My niece shyly nodded and Timbo's face immediately lit up, emitting a light that overpowered the sun.  Without any hesitation Timbo excitedly  stated "I can teach you!"

     The entire way down Robin, Timbo was there.  He biked confidently while matching my niece's pace, encouraging here to "keep going", exclaiming how great she was doing, stopping with her when she needed to, dismounting from his bike before I even had a  chance to help her back up when she fell, softly brushing off the rubble-all while his elated smile and dauntless spirit never wavered.  Not once. The entire time Timbo graced us with his  presence, I was at ease.  Despite my protective nature, Timbo gave me no reason to keep my guard up as his only motive was to share His love.  

     After trial and many errors, we made it to the end of Robin St.  Before  turning around to head back to his group of friends, Timbo slowed his  bike and said "I know you can do it, have  fun!"  As Timbo rode out of sight a quiet serenity embraced us.  After a  few moments of silence, my niece looked up to me and said in almost a  whisper "he was very kind."  Smiling, I turned to look down toward her  and agreed, "he was very kind, kiddo."  That day, I decided that if I ever met  this kind boy's parents, I'd be sure to thank them and share my story.  

     The year before meeting Timbo was an incredibly difficult one for me  and my family.  We lost six loved ones including my young nephew and  grandfather.  During that time, my faith had  wavered, I began to question God's will, and my outlook on life had morphed into something I could barely recognize.  I often look back at  my interaction with Timbo as a reminder that it is possible to spread  love and be kind, regardless of the situation and  no matter the person.  God granted me this wisdom in the form of a small boy and I made it my mission to put that crucial teaching into  practice in my life and career.

When I first came to America, Timbo was my first friend.  We both love God, and whenever my mom said "you're going to Timbo's house" I got excited.  We played games, rode bikes, play Pokemon, badminton and did word puzzles.

He was always kind to his friends.  He never got bored of playing with his friends.  He always found ways to have fun with anyone.  He would always pray, and he memorized the Bible.  He loved his parents and his brother Benjamin.  We didn't see each other often, but whenever we did, I felt that we had a special bond with each other.

Sometimes when I came over, his friends would play with us.  We all had lots of fun.  One day we went to this stream.  When we were playing in the water I got soaking wet and nearly floated away!

Luckily I got out of the water.  On the bike ride back home I was trying to do a trick and I scraped my knee.  I was okay though.

After a while, I hadn't played with Timbo for a couple of months.  Then he invited me to go camping with him after his other camping trip with his other friend.  That was going to be my first camping trip.  The following week, I waited.  My mom gave me the news that Timbo had passed and I was devastated.  I'm still in lots of pain after that moment, but at least I had an amazing time with my best friend and I know he is smiling down from Heaven.

 Timbo had just finished his black belt in karate and we thought we would treat Timbo and a couple of his guests to a movie and pizza at The Bear Tooth, which is one of our local theater restaurants here in Alaska. Therefore, my wife stopped by and picked up a Gift Card for Timbo, placing enough money on the card to accommodate the evening with his guests. On Monday of the following week, I learned from Timbo's dad that Timbo didn’t ask his friends for pizza and a movie.  Instead, he took those closest to him, his family, so they could share this gift and enjoy one another's company.  A few days after Timbo's party, Timbo surprised my wife and I with a gracious thank you card to show his appreciation for the gift. Timbo had simply caught my wife and I off guard by presenting us with this.  Seldom, if ever, do I see a young man make the time to fill out a heartfelt thank you card demonstrating his gratefulness for a gift. We were stunned by this gracious act of kindness and even more, taken back when we opened the card!  Upon opening it, we found a note saying how he enjoyed the evening with his family, along with a $5 bill!  When I showed my wife, we stopped and exchanged glances at each other, thinking, what in the world is this $5 bill for?  Upon reading the message, we soon discovered the reason why. Timbo felt he should return the unused portion of the Gift Card.  So, instead of putting the remaining $5 in his pocket, he returned it to us, saying this was the unused portion of the card!  My wife and I were speechless!  Never in our entire lives have we received such a gracious card from a young man, along with a heartfelt blessing such as we received that day.  In blessing Timbo with a Gift Card, my wife and I were blessed with an even greater gift, a teaching a 9-year-old brought to us in the form of this passage.     (Luke 6::38)  Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.      That day, Timbo's Good Measure was indeed measured back to us, poured out and running over!   A simple card demonstrating his appreciation followed by an incredibly gracious act of returning that which he didn't use.  It was an unexpected gift from the heart of a young man genuinely rooted in the Lord that touched my wife and I deeply.  I have been told "that the best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched.  They must be felt with the heart."  As for that day, my wife and I will remember forever how a delightful, wonderful young man had given back to us such an extraordinary measure of love and thoughtfulness.   

Blessed,  

Ken and Melissa Reiser
 

Timbo was in a McDonald's in the Philippines and noticed an elderly man going from table to table after people were done and eating their scraps.  Even as shy as he was, he went up and bought a burger and delivered it to the man.  

I'm lucky enough to have been Tim's next door neighbor.  I've lived there for 20 years and I have watched the effect that Timbo had on our neighborhood.  The children would gather in front of our houses and I enjoyed every day watching him play with the other neighborhood kids.  I remember one time there were 3 kids, one of them Timbo, riding bicycles and playing and 2 of them wanted the same toy.  The youngest one wanted it the worst, and the loudest!  The older one, as older ones sometimes do, was having their own fun with it.  Timbo was riding off on his bike as it escalatated and he just gracefully turned around and he said to the older kid "just let her have it and she'll set it down in a minute".  He said nothing more and rode off.  Sure enough, within a minute of receiving the toy she was done with it and set it down.  Just his peace and wisdom and the way that he affected other kids was something else.

Timbo and I were playing a card game at the table and Ben (baby brother) was in the playpen, mad because he wanted to be playing with us.  Screaming and crying!  Instead of getting angry because he wanted to play games he said to me "We will just have to wait", then walked over to the playpen, climbed inside, and just sat down.  Ben quieted immediately, sat down and just started playing with his toys.  Just having his big brother there was all he needed!

When Timbo was 8 years old I had this conversation with him after breakfast.  

Mom: Timbo before we start our homeschool class today let's clean your bedroom first.

Timbo: Mom, can I go to my bedroom without you because I have something for you.

Mom: Okay.  (Goes away and comes back to see $200 on the table).

Mom: Timbo what is this money for?

Timbo: Its for you mom.  I've been saving up to pay you.  It's really been my goal.

Mom: (Surprised) What are you paying me for?

Timbo: I'm just thankful that you always take good care of us!