I was prepared for it and yet I wasn’t. I knew that James was right, “Life is a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes” but I wasn’t prepared for the emotion I felt. Dad had been sick for so long. During his last week we knew he was in great pain. His death was a blessing and a sweet release but when it came I was a boy again. I thought of his strong hands; his confident, assertive ways; his laughter, his love of life; his determined will and I wondered, “What am I to do now?” I’ve never drawn a breath but that dad was here, now he is gone what will that mean? As a kid I never had a worry because I knew my dad could handle anything. Even through his health problems it never occurred to me he could be afraid or uncertain. He always embraced life, never backed down from a challenge and faced each obstacle with faith and courage. Life would be different from this point on. I was glad he had gone home to glory. I rejoiced in his joining the land of the living with Christ his Savior. I knew mom and dad were together again. I thought of all our family gathered in a great reunion and I experienced peace.
I’ve been thinking since Thursday about what my father taught me. He tried to teach me about cars and their maintenance…it didn’t take. He tried to teach me to love mincemeat, I refused! However, he did teach me the love of God the Father by the way he loved me. He taught me that love is unconditional and yet firm. He taught me that love cares enough to instruct, correct and rebuke. He taught me that real love makes sacrifices. He taught me to love the Scripture as he read and studied his Bible daily. He taught me to love the music of the church through his belting out the hymns Sunday after Sunday. He taught me relationship through his lifetime friends. He taught me respect, dignity and responsibility by the way he lived. I thought about another verse from James, “Every good and perfect gifts comes down from the Father above.” Thank you Father and thank you pop.
Rod