A Sad Month…

I want to apologize for all my readers for taking such an extended absense on this blog. Frankly, I have not even checked the blog for several weeks.

On July 26, 2009, my father passed away unexpectedly. It was the saddest day of my life. It’s been over a month since his passing and there’s not a day that goes by when I don’t think about him. My dad was a mentor to me in so many ways…spiritually, emotionally, even financially. While the day of his passing was by far the hardest for me, I’m discovering that the days I miss him most are at the times when I need his advice, or just to hear his voice, and he’s not there to call. 

True, he was a little bit hard on me growing up. In fact, if I wanted anything out of the ordinary – such as a used car when I was 17 – dad, asked me to write up a business plan to explain how I would pay for the car. I laugh now, but that was the first of many business plans! Now, I understand that he was trying to teach me the value of a dollar, respect for hard work, and good old fashioned integrity. I can gladly say that I never let him down and worked hard to always fullfill my end of the bargain. I have his lessons and example to thank.

More importantly, my dad was a man of true character. He was a servant to God, his country, and his family. If he said that he was going to do something, you could count on the fact that it would be completed with excellence. His character was most apparent in his relationship with my mom. They had been married 38 years and had been sweethearts since the 7th grade! He wasn’t just loyal to her, but he deeply loved and honored her.  He was a hard-working provider, open communicator, and spiritual leader to her. Mom and dad had a rare friendship, knowing that they would be lifelong partners til death do they part.  Though I miss my dad beyond words, my heart breaks for my mom knowing how much they loved and depended upon each other.

In some ways, I’m grateful to be sad because that means I had a wonderful relationship with my dad while he was here on this earth. I was his girl and he was my hero. Though his passing seems too early, I know that it was all in God’s perfect time. Just like everything else my dad did, I believe  he accomplished God’s purpose for his life with excellence, with accuracy, and ahead of schedule.  His legacy has made me strive for a deeper relationship with my Heavenly Father – perhaps partially to feel closer to my earthly father. More importantly, however, my dad taught me the importance of knowing God and experiencing the grace and love of Christ while we are still on this earth. Our heavenly reward is just a bonus, and I’m so glad to know that my dad is up there experiencing it.