Apr

3

Loss of a Father

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It was 3:30 p.m. in the afternoon in San Francisco.  My wife and I were in a restuarant eating a late lunch or early dinner when I received a call from my brother in Chattanooga.  He was on his way to my home town which was about 60 miles from Chattanooga.  His words, “I have some bad news, daddy has died.”  You can imagine that at that point I was stunned.   I couldn’t believe it.  He was in reasonably good health for a man of 79.  I immediately began to contact my airline and by 11:00 pm my wife and I were in the air headed for Atlanta and then “home”.  I arrived at the funeral home around 8:30 am the next morning.  Reality began to set in. 

The viewing of the body was set for the next day and the funeral the next day.  I was ready to speak about this wonderful man who had brought joy and stability to my life and my brother’s life when he and our mother married way back in 1952.  I said the following words that morning along with many others.

“Daddy chose to marry our mother.  In doing that he chose my brother and me.  He didn’t have to do that, but he did.  And the best thing that he did was to give us a new name, his name.  A name that was respected, full of integrity and faithfulness.  And he chose to do that early so that when I entered the first grade I had a new name.  I was proud of that new name.  And you know, I never wanted to disappoint my father, or bring shame to that name that he had given me.  Our father helped make us what we are today.  He gave us opportunities that we could have never had.  He loved us and put us on his shoulders so that we could do more and see more than we could ever imagine.”

Our father was an example of patience, devotion and love which was exemplified in how he treated our mother and my brother and me.   He was always proud of his “two boys” and their accomplishments in life.  And my brother and I realized that we were given those opportunities to succeed because our father loved us and taught us well.

II Timothy 4:7 – 8 says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the reace, I have kept the faith.  Finally there is laid up for me the Crown of Righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge will give to me on that Day and not for me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 

My father was a man of faith, a good man.  He always did things for people.  He took them to the doctor, visited them, talked with people and encouraged them.  He had integrity which meant to me that my father didn’t cheat us or anyone by giving us something less than his best.  He gave everything without holding back.   And I would hope that I could be just like him.

My father has fought the good fight, finished the race, kept the faith, and on Tuesday, March 17 he entered the presence of His Lord and is now rejoicing in the presence of the Lord. 

May we always fight the good fight, and keep the faith and when we finish the course we will see Jesus and hear Him say “Well done my good and faithful servant.” 

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