So far, this year has been extremely challenging. So many things have happened in such a short span of time. For the first time in their lives, my youngest children have experienced the death of someone they deeply loved and valued. It has been so difficult to help them deal with this heartache while dealing with my own grief. We lost my daddy, their papa, our family patriarch, the glue that held us all together.
As we’ve dealt with this tremendous loss, I’ve come to realize that God is good, even in the midst of my grief. My dad was a great Christian man. He lived his life for God, preaching the gospel of truth, not just in words but in actions. Daddy loved with the love of God and always tried to point others to a loving God that was good, even in the midst of struggles and hard times. Daddy taught us that God is to be first priority and everything else is built on that. Daddy equipped us in his life to deal with his death….not just in words but in actions!
As I’ve walked this road I never wanted to go down…I always wanted my daddy here….I have found myself in somewhat strange territory. I miss my daddy and I would love to pick up the phone and just chitchat for a few minutes. However, everytime I think about him (which is very often), my mind wanders to the question: What is he doing right now? My sadness is for a moment when I think about the answer to that question! I know that he is in the very presence of God! He lived his life serving God and now he is in the presence of the one he loved and served all these years! Daddy is experiencing everything he taught and preached! A place beyond compare, a love that words can’t describe, and peace that is just unfathomable. Yes, I would love to still have my daddy here BUT I just can’t stay sad when I think of what he’s doing!!
I know that our loss is great and there will be things that will bring tears to our eyes and grief and sadness will overwhelm us. Days will come when we miss him so much and would just love to hear his voice….but we have a hope that only comes from knowing God. Daddy ran his race full of this same hope, knowing that in the end, God would usher him home. There are many loved ones that have gone before and now Daddy is celebrating with them, as they all await our arrival. It’s that hope that brings me so much peace.
I must admit, I’m in no hurry to get there… not because I don’t want to go…but I’ve got work to be done here. I have to finish my own race. I have to accomplish the things set before me that God has placed me here to do. I have to equip my children, the way Daddy equipped me.
I’ve always thought that I’d be such a wreck if something ever happened to my daddy, and I guess I really could be, if I allowed myself to focus just on the loss. But, I have a hope! A hope that we are only SEPARATED FOR A SEASON!
Multifaceted Praise 