Happy Birthday Dad.

My dad would have been 74 today but his poor tired body gave out on him a few years ago. He was tired, weary, and truly ready to shed his earthly body and enter into the presence of His Lord.  Even though time has passed since he died, still the waves of loss from my dad are with me daily. Grief, like death, is no real friend to us.  One day you can be walking along whistling and enjoying the life God gave you and in an instant, grief can sneak up on you and overwhelm your life, in the moment, for the day, week, or even month.

The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he understands how weak we are; he knows we are only dust. Psalms 103:13-14 (NLT)

There’s something about dads. God has ordained them to be the key leader in the home, and the model of life for his children.  You know that one day your mom and dad will pass away, but when it comes it’s alway too soon. Always.

My dad lived a simple life.  He was calm. He didn’t worry. Not much could stir him up. He was steady, faithful, and reliable. He was married to the same woman for 50 years. He worked hard. He worked tireless and diligently to provide for his little family.  He was a typesetter at various printing companies. I remember the days he would take me as a kid to his smoke filled print rooms and show me how meticulously he would set the little letters in place, backward, for the printing presses. It provided a modest living for him, until the computer came along.  With the invention of word processing programs, his job was obsolete. After that I watched him hustle and work so hard at many different jobs to make ends meet. He was an admirable man.

He’s missed. Everything about him is missed.

Happy Birthday Dad. It’s been over 4 years of glory for you in heaven. Whatever it’s like there, I’m certain that you’re enjoying the company of mom, and Eddie. See you soon.

And now, brothers and sisters, I want you to know what will happen to the Christians who have died so you will not be full of sorrow like people who have no hope.  For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus comes, God will bring back with Jesus all the Christians who have died. 1 Thess 4:13-14 (NLT)