It's now been a week and two days since my dad went home to be with Jesus. I was very blessed to be able to take all week off work and spend time with family who came from far and wide, including the Yukon, California, Nebraska, Indiana and Alabama, to remember their brother, uncle, father, and grandfather.
Our family worked together to plan the funeral, the program, the obituary and many other details through the week. It was decided that if we wanted to share memories of dad, we should write them down and my oldest brother would read them.
How do you narrow that down and sum up the most important memories of your dad over his lifetime? I had no idea what to say, but the night before the funeral I couldn't sleep. I remembered many things about my dad, and finally about 3:00 am, I got out of bed, came down and did a little typing on the laptop. I gave this letter to my wonderful brother Galen the next morning to read at the funeral.
Dad,
I think I first realized how special you were during my junior high years, when my mother was suffering from the cancer that would soon lead to her death. Not only did you take care of her with sweet tenderness, but you also taught me how to cook, clean, and do laundry, and you worked side by side with me. You taught me to check the grocery ads and make a shopping list, and you never complained when we ate a lot of hot dogs and hamburgers. You made me feel that my help was very valuable and important. You even showed your appreciation by raising my allowance to much more than my siblings ever received! (At this point Galen stopped as if shocked and said, "I believe this is the first time the rest of us heard about this!)
I wish I could say that I inherited some of your wonderful traits such as your kindness, your constant even-tempered good humor, your humility, and your servant’s heart. But the one endearing quality I can confidently declare that you passed on to me is your love for ice cream, and I have faithfully shared that with my own three sons! I also share your love for Jesus, and I pray that I pass that on to my boys as well.
I want you to know how much I appreciate my six brothers and three sisters, as well as your wife of the past 36 years. The godly character they possess and the friendship we all share is an incredible gift. I know you were deeply thankful that all ten of your children are serving the Lord, and that your grandchildren are also following that path. I pray that this legacy will continue in our family, that our children and grandchildren will have hearts that are fixed on God, and that you will see us all in heaven some day.
With love from your daughter,
LeAnn
Unfortunately, my lack of humility was re-affirmed when I caught myself bragging to my brothers and sisters that my letter got the biggest laugh at the funeral! Hopefully God will continue to refine my character for many years to come before I meet Him and my parents in our heavenly home!
