15 Feb 24 in Twenty-10: Scripture Memory Verse #4, for my Daddy
HOME AT LAST
Precious Friends, I want to share with you that my sweet Daddy, Wilson, went home to be with Jesus this past Friday, February 12th. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Glory to God!
Daddy fought the good fight for sure, and had finally finished the race keeping the faith that secured not only a crown of righteousness for him, but a heavenly home that was custom-designed and prepared especially for Daddy by the Master Architect, Jesus. Obviously his “place” was complete early Friday afternoon except for one thing: Daddy. So, true to His Word in John 14:1-3, the Lord came back to take Daddy “home”. He did not struggle or suffer long that day, and I find great comfort in that. A friend shared with me just this morning that hospice workers had once told her that those who are at peace go quickly. If I am certain of anything it is that my Daddy was at peace; he left quickly.
The Lord has given me such a sweet picture to hold onto and I hope you’ll indulge me just another moment or two. The nurse told us that Daddy had eaten breakfast that morning (a good appetite – another sign that he was not suffering or struggling), and in my mind’s eye I see the Lord greeting him “like the light of morning at sunrise” saying, “Hey there Wilson, my brother, my friend! I have waited for this day for such a long time… to bring you home! As soon as you’re finished eating, we can go. Your “place” is all ready for you and I can hardly wait another minute to show it to you… to be with you there… and to take you to My Father and your Father! Oh, and you won’t believe the party that’s being planned just for you… friends and family who are so excited to welcome you home! It’s going to be wonderful – and yes, there will be bar-be-cue! Are you ready?”
How could Daddy have refused that sweet invitation? How could he have turned away from the beautiful face of the Fairest of ten thousand; the peaceful voice that has calmed stormy seas throughout this terrestrial ball; the smile that has radiated through the sunrise and the sunset of every dawn and dusk; and those eyes… those eyes that have been fixed on him from the moment he was conceived and that never once strayed from him in all of his almost-82-years of life? On that Friday afternoon Daddy surrendered to Perfect Love and off they went, life-scarred hand in nail-scarred hand… happily ever after. No more aches, no more pain, no more wheel chair, no more cancer, no more guilt, fear or discouragement… no longer earthbound, but free at last! Freer and more alive than he has ever been; completely and lavishly loved by the One and Only, and home… home at last.
And so, my memory verse for February 15th is for my Daddy. It is perhaps my favorite passage in my favorite chapter in all of Scripture: Romans 8:38-39
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39
I love you, Daddy.
xo – P
