Dad’s Journey Home

November 11th, 2023

Dearest Friends and Family ~

Today, my dad ended his mortal journey on this earth. He passed peacefully from his earthly body into his eternal home in the presence of God. I recently read an article and I love how the author explained life and death.

“From the moment you give your life to Christ, you will never be separated from the presence of God or the love of God ever again. If you live, his presence goes with you. When you die your faith becomes sight and though you will be absent from your body you will be present with the Lord.”

—Clarence L. Haynes Jr. (Contributing Author at crosswalk.com)

Awaiting the New Body

“For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” — 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 (NIV)

I know that my dad loved the Lord. He was a faith servant of Jesus Christ and he shared the love of God with anyone who would listen. My dad would read his Bible every morning and read a devotional. When he was unable to attend church services in person he would watch a religious program on the television. My dad was a “good guy!” He never shied away from work, no job ever seemed too big or too small for him. Due to medical reason my dad was not able to work outside of the house when my brother and I were in our teens, and my mom work both outside the home and owned her own beauty salon. My dad immediately learned how to cook meals, do laundry and do house cleaning. He also continued to maintain yard work and light auto maintenance. Dad never let his medical disability keep him from providing for his family in any manner possible. My dad spent countless hours working with me on my softball skills and my brother’s baseball interests and was even the Scout Master for my brothers scout group. My dad and my brother shared many activities from hunting to fishing and an overall need to never meet a stranger. They could make friends no matter where they went.

My parents married in July 1963 and were baptized in a local country creek not far from where I grew up and attended the church just up the road from our house. My dad always did what was right no matter the cost. He always thought of others before himself. He loved my mom dearly and was extremely proud of me and my brother. And, we are proud of both our parents and thank God for giving them to us. What a gift!

As the events of today have unfolded, I am forever grateful for all the loving and caring people in my life. At one moment today, when the house was filled with friends and family I paused and realized we all loved this man. Our love is shared but it is also uniquely individual; our relationships vary on many levels, and our grieving will be similar yet different. The one absolute fact that I know deep in my heart is this…He is LOVED.

Parable of the Bags of Gold

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’”

—Matthew 25:23 NIV

Song Lyrics For Dad

Go rest high on that mountain
Son your work on earth is done
Go to heaven a-shoutin’
Love for the Father and the Son

—Go Rest High On That Mountain written by Vince Gill

There’s a land that is fairer than day 
And by faith we can see it afar 
For the Father waits over the way 
To prepare us a dwelling place there

In the sweet by and by
We shall meet on that beautiful shore
In the sweet by and by
We shall meet on that beautiful shore

—In The Sweet By And By written by Ben Webster

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

—Amazing Grace written by John Newton

~Charlotte, Seeker of unexpected Comfort, Happiness, Joy and Patience.

References:

https://www.biblegateway.com/

https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/what-does-absent-from-the-body-present-with-the-lord-mean.html