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Tribute to D Zacharia Our Beloved Valyapapa
Today our hearts are filled with sorrow as we say goodbye to our beloved Valyapapa, my father’s eldest brother. His passing has left a deep emptiness in our family—one that words can hardly express. Yet even in this grief, we thank God for the precious life he lived and the countless ways he loved and cared for all of us.
Valyapapa was not just the eldest among nine siblings; he was the heart that held the entire family together. He carried the responsibility of the family with quiet strength and deep love. He made sure that none of us went astray and that we always remembered the values we were raised with. For all of us, he was a guide, a constant source of wisdom.
Above all, he was a true Christian. His faith was sincere and unwavering. His prayers were powerful, and many of us have personally felt the strength of those prayers in our lives. When Valyapapa prayed, you could sense the depth of his faith and his love for the Lord.
There is an incident from his youth, which I remember often quoted in my father's sermons, that beautifully reflects the depth of his faith. Once, a Pentecostal pastor told him that he had seen a vision in which a coffin was being brought out of his house, suggesting that he might die young. Valyapapa’s response revealed the strength of his faith. He calmly said that he had already decided to live and die for Christ. If Christ wished to take him then, he would only be glad, because it meant he would be with the Lord sooner. That unwavering faith shaped the way he lived the rest of his life.
Family meant everything to Valyapapa. He strongly believed that families should stay united. He insisted on regular family gatherings, and those gatherings were never just social occasions. They always included a prayer fellowship and what we lovingly called the “Valyapapa session.” During those moments, he would remind us of how our family survived difficult times during Appachan and Ammachi’s days, and how we must honor their legacy by living with strong Christian values. He cared deeply about how we lived—how we dressed, how we behaved, and most importantly, how close we were walking with Christ.
I will never forget one particular moment that shows the kind of person he was. On the day we were leaving for the United States, I called him early that morning just to inform him that we were traveling and asked him to pray for us. But Valyapapa did something extraordinary. Instead of simply praying from home, he traveled all the way to Kottayam just to see us, pray for us in person, and send us off with his blessing. That was the kind of love he had—he never did things halfway. His care was always personal, sacrificial, and full of prayer.
During my pregnancy, when I was bedridden in the hospital, his love and concern became even more evident. Almost every day he would come to visit, bringing food from home. When he learned that I liked biriyani, he made sure that it was prepared and brought to me with such care. Those moments of kindness meant more than words can say. In a time when I was weak and struggling, his presence brought comfort and strength.
Valyapapa was also a homeopathic doctor, and for many of us he was the first person we turned to whenever we needed treatment. His medicines were never just medicines—they were given with prayer, concern, and love. Even after we moved away, we continued seeking his guidance and medicines for our family, even for my son Jithin. We always believed that along with the medicine came his prayers and blessings.
His compassion extended far beyond our family. He ran the Bethesda Hospital in Thumpamon, dedicating his life to caring for the sick and the elderly. Many elderly people who had no one to care for them found love and dignity under his care. He would often take their soiled clothes home and wash them himself, serving them with a humility and compassion that many of their own children did not show. For him, serving the helpless was part of serving Christ.
His concern for the next generation was equally remarkable. At the VBS programs of Nallanikunnu CSI Church, he made sure that children received healthy refreshments. He believed that caring for children included caring for their health. So he and Mummy would prepare healthy snacks like kozhukkatta, boiled eggs, milk, and other nourishing food for the VBS children.
Valyapapa’s life was also filled with many acts of social service. He helped build houses for the homeless, supported ministry for the blind, and sponsored orphans in Parkal. These are only a few examples of the many quiet acts of kindness he carried out without seeking recognition.
Valyapapa was a man of integrity, strong values, and deep compassion. He lived his life serving others, guiding his family, and trusting God in all things. His love was practical, sincere, and constant. He didn’t just speak about faith and family—he lived it every single day.
Today we feel the pain of losing someone so precious to us. The space he filled in our lives and in our family is irreplaceable. Yet we take comfort in knowing that he has finished his race faithfully and has gone to the eternal rest prepared for him by the Lord he loved and served.
Valyapapa’s prayers, his love, his guidance, and his example will continue to live in our hearts. His life has left a legacy that will guide our family for generations.
We will miss him deeply. But we will always remember him with love, gratitude, and honor.
Valyapapa, your love shaped our family, your prayers strengthened our lives, and your memory will remain in our hearts forever.
(Daughter of Rev. Jacob Daniel, younger brother of D Zacharia))
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