Life's Lesson

Over the last few weeks I've come face to face with yet another reality of life. My mentor, the man I've trusted for my entire life, the one who gave me life and the fundamentals of my faith has begun the slow but certain trek toward eternal rest...better known as death. The stark reminder, so close to my own heart, that life is fleeting has shaken me to the core. The man who once towered over me has been reduced to a feeble skeleton of a man with barely enough strength or stability to stand. Being unable to communicate with my father is probably the hardest part of his decline. While his mind remains sharp his hearing has degenerated to the poinnt that he can't distinguish my voice on the phone. Oh how I long to hear his voice...that voice that carries love in every word. That voice that has scolded, told dumb jokes and generally imparted the wisdom of life for every single day of my life.
I remember the first time I heard the word "cancer". I was seven years old and it was used in the same sentence with my Dad's name. Yes, he fought colon cancer in the early 1960's...and won. I'll never forget his instruction not to wrap a rope around your hand when handling a young steer or heifer, only to ignore his own advice and gain a broken hip. But through it all there was always the same sound of wisdom, wit and amazing, unconditional love.
Now, in his final moment of teaching, in the last days of his time in this realm he is teaching me the greatest lesson of all. That lesson? The same one the Lord taught when He answered the lawyer. "The greatest commandment is this; love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind. And the second is just like the first, love your neighbor as yourself." With every breath my dad glorifies God. With every thought he praises his fellow man. With every action he reminds me that no matter what, I am his son and he is my hero! I love you Daddy!!!