When I think of my daddy these words come to mind
• Laughter
• Optimism
• Godliness
• Passion
• Love
Daddy was fun. As children, he would take us to fun events like the Ringling Bros & Barnum and Bailey Circus, The Ice Capsades, Putt-Putt, par 3 golf, baseball games, etc. He always loved to laugh, tell jokes and be silly. Dad had a smile that was contagious.
He loved children, especially his grandchildren. As infants, he would talk “baby talk”. As toddlers, he would get on the floor and play with them. As school age children he would take them to the church playground or to the church gym for a game of basketball.
Dad just loved life. He preached hundreds of sermons on being positive, joyful, overcoming, how to be happy. I can hear him say… “Expect great things to happen and great things will happen.”
Dad was a man after God’s own heart. As a child, I really thought that he had a direct line to God that nobody else had. There was something about his prayers – they were powerful and effective. He taught us about Jesus – the importance of putting Christ first in our life. Many mornings when I would wake up early, I would tip toe downstairs only to find him on his knees in the den or in his office praying.
Dad was the same man at home as he was behind the pulpit. He made sure he had devotions with us before school – even if we were running late. When dad counseled us, he always brought us back to God – seeking God’s will, praying daily, reading the Bible regularly, and believing in God’s promises. Reminding us that being dedicated to Christ is the greatest cause in the entire world.
Dad was passionate – passionate about his church, his family, the Lord and of course, mom. We never doubted dad’s love for mom growing up. He kissed her often – whether she was cooking, working around the house, watching TV. He would rub her feet most Saturday nights while we watched “The Lawrence Welk Show”. They would buy each other beautiful cards for birthdays, anniversary, Valentine’s Day and Christmas and then write their own loving words in the card for each other. Dad would leave a note for mom every morning by the coffee pot saying sweet words of love and adoration to her.
Mom and Dad were inseparable, especially once we were on our own and raising our own families. You didn’t see one without the other. They loved traveling together. Mom was always the navigator and kept meticulous notes on their trips. They loved praying together. In fact, they prayed together every morning and night. They prayed for anyone in need. Their sensitivity to the Holy Spirit was a comfort for many people. There have been countless times I have called mom and dad and have asked them to pray for me. Even my children learned to do the same…”let’s call papaw and grandmamma to pray.
My parents were one-of-a-kind. I feel so privileged and honored to be their daughter. The have taught me how to live – they gave me a solid foundation to build my life on. They were “God” in the flesh to me – loving me when I disappointed them, forgiving me when I acted selfishly, and letting me know that no what I will always be their child – their “baby girl”.
If my parents loved me this much – how much more does God love me.
Dad touched thousands of lives in his lifetime. I heard over and over last night the comment “I am who I am today because of your father….he led me to the Lord…he baptized me and my family…he came to visit my father in the hospital everyday and prayed for him…he married us…..he preached my husband’s funeral….he visited me when I was sick… he welcomed me in when I was new to the area….he fed me spiritually and gave me the bread of Life – God’s Word. Daddy was a PASTOR – a shepherd of his sheep. If one went astray …. He would leave the 99 and go after the one and bring them back into the fold.
Dad loved his members and counted them his friends. Mom and dad traveled to where you were to visit with you…to pray with you…to counsel you….to help you through a crisis…to just come and have some R&R.
You see dad was “God” in the flesh to those he touched. If Pastor Ross cares this much for me…if he loves me this much…how much more does God love me.
Dr. L Nelson Bell, Ruth Graham’s father, wrote “Only those who are prepared to die are really prepared to live.” The uncertainty is not in the dying, it’s the preparation. If any two people were prepared to die, it was mom and dad. If any two lived – it was them. Their goal in life was to make sure no one was uncertain about their preparation for life after death. Souls for Christ was his cry. And why did they feel this way…….They knew where they were going. Dad loved singing about it – “I’ll Fly Away”, “Meeting In The Air”.
I found a song in one of his old songbooks called “Heaven Will Surely Be Worth It All”.
Often, I’m hindered on my way.
Burdened so heavy I almost fall
Then I hear Jesus sweetly say
“Heaven will surely be worth it all”
Heaven will surely be worth it all
Worth all the sorrows that have befall
After this life with all it’s strife
Heaven will surely be worth it all.
On the morning dad died, a dear friend sent me an email letting me know that he heard about dad’s passing. He told me….before I knew anything about your dad’s death…I was folding clothes this morning and just had this vision of dad going to a gate and being greeted by your mom….she said “ Bobbie, I’ve been waiting on you.” As she reached out to take his hand she added, “I have so much to show you. Isn’t it wonderful here”. And they walked away hand in hand through the gate into heaven.
Mom went ahead 12 days earlier to get things ready for daddy…. that’s just like her.
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