Sunday, May 5, 2019
Where do I begin to honor such a wonderful man? His life has impacted and inspired so many. The Sunday morning my Dad passed, my sister Jessie called me about 4:00 in the morning. She said the hospital called and said Dad wasn't doing well. She said I needed to go see him. I hung up the phone, talk to Steve for a minute and started to fall back to sleep, thinking of my Dad and how I wanted to see him at least once more. As I lay there, barely back asleep, I saw two sets of hands holding one another. I then saw my Dad. He had the biggest, most beautiful smile on his face. He was a young man. He had dark hair and a dark mustache. He was strong, he was healthy. I didn't see the face of the man greeting him, loving him, and congratulating him. I didn't need to see his face to know it was Christ. The warm embrace they shared was pure love. A few moments later I was awakened by my moms phone call that my dad had passed away. I am so very grateful for my dream. For that tender moment. For the confirmation that Dad isn't in pain anymore. That he is in Heaven. I will never forget that morning. I will never forget the love of Christ I felt as I sobbed in Steve's arms. It hurts knowing we will not physically see Dad on this earth again. However, we will see him in each other, in the memories we have of him, and in the love we will always feel for him. He will always be with us. One day we will see him in Heaven. We can't fully appreciate joyful reunions later without tearful separations today. It hurts so much right now. But the only way to take sorrow out of death is to take love out of life. Dad would never want that. Dad loved all of us so very much. Every single person in his life, he loved and valued. That is why we feel so much pain today. Without his love we wouldn't feel so much sorrow. I will take the pain we are all feeling. I will take it because I know it means he was a great wonderful man. I'll take it because I know it means he loved us so very much and we loved him the same. I found Dad's scriptures. He highlighted in John vs.4. It says "Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. I love this scripture. Just like Christ, I think it's the same for dad. Since he so loved us, we ought to love one another. We can't see dad, but if we love one another, dad will live in us and his love with complete us. Our family began with love when he meant mom. They always told us kids how taken they were with each other when they met. Later when they married, dad and was overjoyed to gain two wonderful sons in their union. He lovingly adopted them a short period after. He loved them so very much. He was always so proud of them. They were his boys. He spent time with them four wheeling, fishing, cooking, camping, and watching sports. Dad always cherished the moments he had with them. Years later us girls came along. He was the best, most gentle father to us. He brushed our hair, kissed our foreheads, snuggled us, coached us and loved us whole heartedly. We were never afraid to talk to him, to trust him, or confide in him. The bond he had with all five of us kids was truly special. We all know he loved us because he showed it every time we were with him. I will sorely miss his warm embraces and his gentle touch. Dad was also a very proud grandfather. He absolutely adored each of his grandkids. He bonded with each and every one. He held each one in his arms, whispered them to sleep, barked at them when they were naughty, hugged them when they were down, loved them and treasured them with every breath. You made him proud. Proud to be a grandpa. Proud to have such wonderful kids in his life. The most special, is the relationship he has with mom. All the best memories I have of dad included my mom. Their love is inspirational to say the least. The way they spoke to and about one another. How their eyes lit up when they saw each other. They always held hands, kissed, hugged and flirted shamelessly. I have countless memories of them holding each other close dancing. Of intimate moments when they just held each other. They were patient, kind, respectful, and thoughtful of one another. They love each other with every fiber of their being. Mom and Dad's love is the best example of what marriage and families are intended to be. They showed us that nothing matters more than family, friends and the loved ones we share our lives with. That love is intended to last longer than a lifetime, it is to last for all eternity. We will always cherish and love you Dad. We will remember and honor you by loving each other as you did. We love you so very much and look forward to the day we will see you again.
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