someday

"SOMEDAY...

a loving hand will be laid upon your shoulder

and this brief message will be given:

COME HOME".

Billy Graham

that "someday" was today for my dear, sweet dad.

today, God laid his hand on my father's shoulder and whispered "come home".

for 9 long weeks, he fought to stay with us.

if i listed the complications that wracked his body,

you wouldn't believe me.

 it wasn't that he was afraid to die. 

for he knew exactly where he was going

and who he would be with.

he would finally be home...with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,

with his family and many friends who had gone before him.

(click HERE to read a birthday blog about my dad:)

 i know they are falling all over themselves to greet him...

Perry, Emery, Jack, Doc...just to name a few.

and Pork Chop...

yes, Pork Chop...the man he worked with for many years,

who loved my dad,

who watched my dad, a man of faith, live his life for Christ every single day...

and knew that my dad was a true man of God.

i believe that

the real believers know how to reach others by example.

that was my dad.

i'm not sure why Pork Chop came to mind...

except that story is a perfect example of the kind of man he was.

reaching out to others.

i learned a lot watching him with Pork Chop and so many others like him.

Pete is another example of someone my dad reached out to.

my dad fought to stay on earth to live one more day 

with his beautiful bride of 61 years,

 to have one more cup of coffee with her in the morning,

gazing out at the backyard he loved so much.

to be there for his four daughters,

to treasure his many grandchildren and great grand-children.

 i just love the quote at the beginning of this post.

it is by a true man of God also.

i read it in a book i bought this week to give my dad for Christmas.

it's called Billy Graham in Quotes and I can't tell you 

how wonderful this book is.

as if Billy Graham hasn't already reached many people, he will reach so many more with 

this book, because it is so simply written yet based on scripture.

i can't stop reading it...the comfort it is bringing me today is priceless.

this book covers more than 100 subjects, every feeling and sentiment,

many different trials and life's more difficult moments...

my dad would have loved this book.

now i think it's my mom who will treasure it.

...just as i treasure all of the friends i have made through this blog,

who take the time to stop by,

read, comment...even when i have checked out and don't respond back.

i can only hope i get my head straight and 

that all changes in the near future:)

mostly, i treasure the prayers i know have been sent up for my dad...

and i will be so grateful if you continue to remember my family...

especially my amazing, wonderful mother...

who will undoubtedly be the subject of a blog post someday.

i think it will be a post that talks about what it means to

not only SAY your marriage vows, but what it means to LIVE them...

as my mom did...by my dad's side until the very end.

i'm sorry to write this on thanksgiving weekend.

but that's life, isn't it?

we need to always remember to be thankful in all things...

most importantly for those we love and those who love us.

i don't believe we lack faith when we grieve.

as he also says in this book...

when we grieve, we simply are showing how much we have loved.

Billy Graham has another quote in this book...

it really does say it all.

we could all replace his name with the one we love.

here it is:

"Someday you will hear that Billy Graham is dead.

Don't you believe it!!!

I shall be more alive than I am now.I will just have changed my address.

 I will have gone into the presence of God."

Billy Graham

 i know my dad is also in the presence of God.

while we will miss him terribly, 

he is now in his perfect heaven...without any pain...

waiting for the rest of his family to join him someday.

and because he was a faithful husband and father,

because he raised us as God's children,

he knows we WILL be with him someday.

 thank you dad...for everything!

  i love you.

Suzy