Last Thursday (Jan 21st) my Daddy took his last breath. After a long night of very labored breathing a sunbeam fell on his face he took one last deep breath and it was done. Within a few minutes we were all gathered around his bed and my mother led the most beautiful prayer of thanksgiving I have ever heard. Instead of asking why; instead of cursing God for taking her partner of 71 years; instead of wondering outloud what would come next she gave thanks for the long life they shared together and for the many years of service Daddy had given to others.
Yes...there is a huge hole in my heart. Yes...I often break down in tears. But as I reflect on the lessons that he taught me, as I think about the life he lived, I can't help but celebrate the fact that he is safe in the arms of Jesus, conversing with the faithful men and women of old and finally realizing just how many people he influenced for good.
Thank you Lord for giving me a Daddy that taught me about your goodness. Thank you for giving me a Daddy that affirmed my worth. Thank you for giving me parents that loved each other and thier children no matter what swirled around them. Thank you for allowing him to be with You!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Life's Lessons
The time I've been both dreading and longing for is coming very quickly now. My dad has become mostly unresponsive and either unable or unwilling to eat. People who visit cannot arouse him adn the nursing staff is unable to get him out of bed. Perhaps he has chosen or willed himself to live this long and has finally run out of will. Perhaps the Lord has been using him for these last many months to remind us all that He is the one that's in control. I'm not sure about it all but I am sure of something else.
For parts of 10 decades my dad has graced this planet. During his lifetime our nation has experienced unprecedented technological change. What was in his childhood a side show of barnstorming now has commercial air passenger service flying many millions of miles each year. What existed only in the radio theater during his teen years now has become the reality of continuing space travel and even a humans walking on the moon. The war to end all wars ended in his early childhood and he saw the effects of the second one.
Even though his early years were marked with the death of both his parents and a move to an Orphan's Home, he chose not to be bitter or spiteful...instead he accepted the opportunities that were given him through State assistance and Christian Orphan's Home guidance and became a well educated educator, ultimately completing a Master's Degree.
But what was more important to him was his life's work, his passion, his chosen profession. Yes he was an educator but the lessons he poured himself into had nothing to do with the 3 R's. Even though he taught those things what he really cared about was teaching others about his Lord and Savior. I sat through countless sermons that he taught...while I admittedly didn't pay as close attention as I should have I remember his teachings, I recall his intonation and the emphasis he put on certain phrases and words. But most of all I remember the lessons he taught through his daily life.
As my Daddy makes preparation for his final breath he is still teaching a most valuable lesson. He has remained gracious and graceful through his ordeal. He has taught others to pray even as he could hardly stay awake long enough to converse. He has treated others with respect even though they tried to ignore him. He has loved his bride of 71 years to the end and showed his children how to be respectable citizens of the nation of their birth as well as the Kingdom of God.
So as you approach that great white throne Daddy, do so with the knowledge that your lessons will live on in the lives and teaching of people close to you and people you never met. Hold your head high as you meet our Lord with the full expectation that He will say to you, "Well done good and faithful servant, enter into eternal life."
I love you Daddy!
For parts of 10 decades my dad has graced this planet. During his lifetime our nation has experienced unprecedented technological change. What was in his childhood a side show of barnstorming now has commercial air passenger service flying many millions of miles each year. What existed only in the radio theater during his teen years now has become the reality of continuing space travel and even a humans walking on the moon. The war to end all wars ended in his early childhood and he saw the effects of the second one.
Even though his early years were marked with the death of both his parents and a move to an Orphan's Home, he chose not to be bitter or spiteful...instead he accepted the opportunities that were given him through State assistance and Christian Orphan's Home guidance and became a well educated educator, ultimately completing a Master's Degree.
But what was more important to him was his life's work, his passion, his chosen profession. Yes he was an educator but the lessons he poured himself into had nothing to do with the 3 R's. Even though he taught those things what he really cared about was teaching others about his Lord and Savior. I sat through countless sermons that he taught...while I admittedly didn't pay as close attention as I should have I remember his teachings, I recall his intonation and the emphasis he put on certain phrases and words. But most of all I remember the lessons he taught through his daily life.
As my Daddy makes preparation for his final breath he is still teaching a most valuable lesson. He has remained gracious and graceful through his ordeal. He has taught others to pray even as he could hardly stay awake long enough to converse. He has treated others with respect even though they tried to ignore him. He has loved his bride of 71 years to the end and showed his children how to be respectable citizens of the nation of their birth as well as the Kingdom of God.
So as you approach that great white throne Daddy, do so with the knowledge that your lessons will live on in the lives and teaching of people close to you and people you never met. Hold your head high as you meet our Lord with the full expectation that He will say to you, "Well done good and faithful servant, enter into eternal life."
I love you Daddy!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
ThAnKfUl Beyond Imagination!
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving day. You remember...it's the day when the stuffed turkey is consumed and the consumers are stuffed. It's the day when football overwhelms even the most fanatic fan and afternoon naps become mandatory activities. It's a day for family, friends and friends and family. And it's a day to remember all the ways we have been blessed...even when there are things in life that don't seem like such a blessing.
As I reflect on all that I have to be thankful for I am quickly overwhelmed. I have an amazing wife who, for almost 35 years has made sure I've been #1 in her life. I've watched as she cared for our children, consoled friends and laughed at my stupid jokes. There is not a man alive that has been more blessed by his wife than I have! It's true...I married WAY above my head!!!
I have three children who, in spite of my best efforts and poor parenting skills have become GREAT people. Each one contributes to the welfare of their community and works hard on a daily basis. They are awesome aunts and uncle and even better parents. But more than that, they actually think I am a great dad.
I have siblings that still talk with each other and actually share the same parents. Each one of them has lived a life full of giving and honoring our parents in the only way we know how.
My aged parents (91 & 90) celebrate their 71st wedding anniversary today, the day before Thanksgiving. They passed on to me a fundamental faith in God and respect for authority that has kept me out of prison and gainfully employed for the 53 years of my life. Their example of how to love gave me the foundation for my own marriage and parenthood mistakes.
But above all of that...I have a God that loved me enough to die for me. Instead of striking me dead for defying Him, He became a man so He could better understand why I do what I do. Then He allowed Himself to be killed so that He and I could have a relationship!
I'm telling you...life does NOT get any better than that! Friends and family, family and friends...all brought together because God gave Himself. Thank you Jesus for loving me in spite of myself!
As I reflect on all that I have to be thankful for I am quickly overwhelmed. I have an amazing wife who, for almost 35 years has made sure I've been #1 in her life. I've watched as she cared for our children, consoled friends and laughed at my stupid jokes. There is not a man alive that has been more blessed by his wife than I have! It's true...I married WAY above my head!!!
I have three children who, in spite of my best efforts and poor parenting skills have become GREAT people. Each one contributes to the welfare of their community and works hard on a daily basis. They are awesome aunts and uncle and even better parents. But more than that, they actually think I am a great dad.
I have siblings that still talk with each other and actually share the same parents. Each one of them has lived a life full of giving and honoring our parents in the only way we know how.
My aged parents (91 & 90) celebrate their 71st wedding anniversary today, the day before Thanksgiving. They passed on to me a fundamental faith in God and respect for authority that has kept me out of prison and gainfully employed for the 53 years of my life. Their example of how to love gave me the foundation for my own marriage and parenthood mistakes.
But above all of that...I have a God that loved me enough to die for me. Instead of striking me dead for defying Him, He became a man so He could better understand why I do what I do. Then He allowed Himself to be killed so that He and I could have a relationship!
I'm telling you...life does NOT get any better than that! Friends and family, family and friends...all brought together because God gave Himself. Thank you Jesus for loving me in spite of myself!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Answers
Someone has correctly said, "Be careful what you ask for!" Well, I asked for an answer and I got it...unfortunately it wasn't the answer I was expecting OR wanting. But it is an answer and I will find a way to "rejoice and be glad in it". I trust that my God has something else in store for me, perhaps right where I'm living and working...and whatever it is will be better than what we ever imagined.
I had to smile when I got the call that they had chosen someone else. It's almost as if we had made an assumption that there wasn't anyone but us that could fill that position. As I look back on it I see the folly of that notion. There was nothing else that I could have done to make the outcome different. Oh sure, I could play the game like Abraham did and force the answer I wanted (even though that sounds very arrogant as I write it), but then it would have been my answer instead of God's.
For all of you who have been praying for and about us, thank you. Keep the prayers going as you move through your busy schedules. Keep on talking with our great God about my attitude and my work. I need your prayers just as I'm certain you need mine. And if you happen to be in the Rockford, IL area, we'd love to see you!
I had to smile when I got the call that they had chosen someone else. It's almost as if we had made an assumption that there wasn't anyone but us that could fill that position. As I look back on it I see the folly of that notion. There was nothing else that I could have done to make the outcome different. Oh sure, I could play the game like Abraham did and force the answer I wanted (even though that sounds very arrogant as I write it), but then it would have been my answer instead of God's.
For all of you who have been praying for and about us, thank you. Keep the prayers going as you move through your busy schedules. Keep on talking with our great God about my attitude and my work. I need your prayers just as I'm certain you need mine. And if you happen to be in the Rockford, IL area, we'd love to see you!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Waiting...waiting...waiting
What an amazing weekend we had! We got to meet Christians in Lewisville, TX who opened their arms to us and made us feel very much at home. They listened intently, asked great questions and didn't seem intimidated to answer our questions at all. We got to spend time looking over the area AND even got a few minutes with Crystal! What a blessing to hear what's going on in her life and her EXCITING news. Congrats my dear daughter (You can check her blog to get the news...)
Now we get to wait a little longer to determine what's next in our life. It could be that God has chosen for nothing to change for us...or it could be that there are changes in store. Either way I have been blessed beyond measure by getting to spend some time getting to know even more Christians.
Thank you Lord for giving us such an AWESOME family!
Now we get to wait a little longer to determine what's next in our life. It could be that God has chosen for nothing to change for us...or it could be that there are changes in store. Either way I have been blessed beyond measure by getting to spend some time getting to know even more Christians.
Thank you Lord for giving us such an AWESOME family!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Closer?
It's been an interesting few months. Several of my close friends are without work due to layoffs with the downturn in the economy. Some have been without work for several months. Some are starting to pick up some interviews and some have actually gotten jobs. Through all of this I've been bouncing back and forth with my own decisions about the future. As each day passes I come closer to my final choice and more sure of the decision that's been made. Now for the more difficult part of this whole process...waiting until it's final and official. As I draw closer to being closer I'm reminded that my God wants just exactly that...for me to draw closer to Him in every way. So with that no so subtle reminder my prayer is simple...Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer precious Lord. Allow me to be at peace with Your time frame and Your amazing love and care.
Friday, October 2, 2009
UGGGGHHHH!
I suppose that waiting has never been my strong suit. It probably isn't high on anyone's list of things most liked. Right now I'm finding myself very impatient with waiting for an answer. Frankly, it's not very becomming of me to show such little patience...but honesty must prevail as I open my life for others to see.
Do you remember as a kid how long it was from one birthday to the next? Do you recall having to wait until Christmas came to get to open the presents under the tree? Well, that's what I'm experiencing right now. I think I know the answer to what I'm waiting for. But until that answer comes it's hard not be anxious.
Yes, I know, the Lord told us not be anxious or worry about anything. Yes, I'm aware that patience is one of the ingredients of the fruit of the Spirit. That doesn't mean that I've mastered the art of waiting without undue concern. I thought I'd gotten better at that until now...It's been less than 2 weeks since my last contact and for some reason I think they should have made a decision by now.
Even as I write this post I recognize how silly it is to so impatient. A decision is being made concerning the welfare of two churches. That can't be taken lightly! That's it! It's not about me at all. Whether or not I am the one chosen to take a particular position is up to God and the men He has entrusted with that decision. I WILL wait for the Lord! (But I sure do wish He'd hurry and let me know what that decision is!)
Do you remember as a kid how long it was from one birthday to the next? Do you recall having to wait until Christmas came to get to open the presents under the tree? Well, that's what I'm experiencing right now. I think I know the answer to what I'm waiting for. But until that answer comes it's hard not be anxious.
Yes, I know, the Lord told us not be anxious or worry about anything. Yes, I'm aware that patience is one of the ingredients of the fruit of the Spirit. That doesn't mean that I've mastered the art of waiting without undue concern. I thought I'd gotten better at that until now...It's been less than 2 weeks since my last contact and for some reason I think they should have made a decision by now.
Even as I write this post I recognize how silly it is to so impatient. A decision is being made concerning the welfare of two churches. That can't be taken lightly! That's it! It's not about me at all. Whether or not I am the one chosen to take a particular position is up to God and the men He has entrusted with that decision. I WILL wait for the Lord! (But I sure do wish He'd hurry and let me know what that decision is!)
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