It has been a year now that my father had passed away. I miss him daily. I miss him then when he was still here with us physically, because many miles of oceans had separated us.
There is a saying that sometimes, you won't know the value of something or someone you love until you lose it. It's not true in my case. I know that I will lose someone so great, even before I lost my beloved father.
You see, my father always love to joke around. He makes people around him laugh no matter what circumstances he's in. When he came to know Christ and accepted Him as his Savior, the more joy he shared with those who had loved him and learned to love him like their own father. He loved to share whatever things he had specially with the needy ones.
Joy is not something we can create. It is a special gift that only comes from God. It is having that feeling inside that "everything is and will be okay" despite the turmoils or any difficult trials around us. The whole time [2 weeks] that my siblings and I were with him, we talked a lot with our father, shared so much laughters and reminisced many warm memories we shared as a family and when our loving mother was also with us.
One night, looking more tired and ready to go home to the Lord, as we [his loved ones] surrounded him on his bed, he started asking my siblings and I, one by one. He wanted to know if we had any special requests and he said that he would personally deliver it to the Lord. So to make him happy, we tried to say anything though what mattered to us was his comfort.
He closed his eyes and placed his skinny arms on his chest as if he was preparing to see his Savior. Tears started running down our eyes, as we took turns hugging him and kissing him and we kept saying "I love you dad, and thank you for everything." His breathing started to become more shallow and slower. But his mental state was very alert and oriented.
After 5 minutes of us intently looking at him, preparing ourselves for his "departure", he suddenly opened his eyes and out loud spoke, "God will be angry!" My brothers and I looked at each other, thinking "was he confused?" But as he was talking, we knew he wasn't. So, I asked him, "Dad, what do you mean God would be angry? With who?"
He looked at me as if I was supposed to know the answer and said, "Yes, God would be angry with you guys because you have too many requests!"
The tears of sorrow turned to tears of laughter. My brothers and I were talking with our eyes as if we were all saying in unison - "That's dad!!!"
The Lord granted few more weeks for us to be together. How I treasured that! Lord, thank You for being close, specially at times when we feel so alone, so scared, and when we are hurting. Help us draw closer to You...
Zephaniah 3:17 -"The Lord your God has arrived to live among you. He is a mighty savior. He will rejoice over you with great gladness. With His love, He will calm all your fears. He will exult over you by singing a happy song."
Psalm 68:3 -"Let the godly rejoice. Let them be glad in God's presence. Let them be filled with joy."
Psalm 146:5 -"Happy are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God."
Even though the parting of our loved ones from this world is heart wrenching for us, we know in our hearts where they are going. To the place of everlasting life, how beautiful is that. I had similar experiences with my mom when she was dying at home and I was caretaking for her. We had many conversations that no one can ever take away from me. I was blessed despite the final outcome here on earth.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you my friend,
Alleluiabelle
This is a wonderful memory that you shared about your Dad. It leaves me with questions like how he must have shaped your life and his love & humor must have given you confidence that only a dad can impart. I wonder, too, how much alike you and your Dad are. I enjoy our friendship and wish you well today as you live out the day for our Lord.
ReplyDeleteShalom!
Mary