It was a few days before Father's day, 1985, when Dad passed away. He was 57.
I will never forget those moments when the family-- Mom, my brother, Steve and his wife, Joyce, my sister, Becky and her husband, Wade, Patty and I holding hands standing around Dad's bed in the hospital after he died. The loss was huge. The grief heavy, but at the same time we had a peace and a joy. How can you feel overcome with grief and be filled with joy and peace at the same time? It doesn't make sense to most people. The loss was as great as any person feels at a time like that, but God's presence was there. He gave peace that surpasses understanding and joy. We knew where Dad was at that very moment. We knew we would see him again. We knew God was with us and would sustain us.
For the next several months and years, I had a number of occasions to especially miss Dad (not that you ever stop) ...my graduation from HPU (1986) and my ordination (1986), Racheal coming to live with us (1987) ...numerous events in James' growing up years...and just those different occasions when it would have been nice to talk things over with him.
Dad's funeral was very special. My brother bought a message from the New Testament Book of 2 Thessalonians chapter 4 and I did a comparison between my Dad and the biblical character, Isaac.
Isaac was a man of faith who had a relationship with God. He knew God and knew how to worship him. He had a steady, determined faith. My Dad was a man of faith. His was not the pioneer faith of Abraham or the rugged faith of Jacob. His was a deep trust in the Living God, it wasn't something that was part of his personality, but a faith that grew out of a relationship with God. My Dad's trust in God enabled him to deal with the day to day routine of life, as well as, adversity and death.
Isaac was a quiet man. He was not the adventurer or pioneer that his father, Abraham, was nor did he stand out like his son, Jacob. There was nothing impressive about Isaac, but God used him, God blessed him and God called himself Isaac's God--"the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob." My Dad was a quiet man. He never made a name for himself. He did not attract attention. He was not an adventurer. However, Dad was God's child. God blessed him in many ways and used him to touch people's lives.
Isaac was a peaceful man. He did not retaliate when he was wronged. When the Philistines stole 3 of his wells in a row, Isaac simply moved to another spot and dug another well. He committed his problem to God. My Dad rarely lost his temper. He had one, and he could lose it, but usually he chose not to retaliate. Even when he was taken advantage of, humiliated and treated unfairly, he did not gripe or demean the person. He had an inner strength that God gave him and he committed to God those people who wronged him.
I could go on, but I will stop.
I think of my wife, Patty, today. She has only been able to spend one or two Father's days with her Dad in the 27 years we have been married. Her Dad's health has gone down a lot in the last five years. Hopefully, we can see him next month. He is a wonderful, godly man--a real blessing to me and everyone who knows him.
If your Dad is still alive, I hope you got to spend time with him or at least call him today. If he is no longer alive, thank God for him.
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