Remembering Dad
I have a mountain of memories of my Dad:
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He came to the breakfast table every morning “singing” one line of “When it’s Springtime in the Rockies”. I say “singing” very loosely here, as Dad was completely tone deaf. I have no idea what the significance of that song was, but it was a cheery way to start the day – no matter what season it was in the Rockies!
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Dad helped me to understand what “the fear of the Lord” meant. Although a calm and patient man by nature, when he started to chew the side of his tongue, I knew to shape up my behaviour!;)
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Dad was a man of few- but wise – words. He had an amazing ability to summarize a complex situation in a neat, little phrase.
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When Dad told a funny story, he’d laugh so hard he could hardly get the words out.
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Every morning he’d turn on the local radio station to hear the “Farm Report”…but what he really got a kick out of was the words to those crazy country songs!
15 years ago this November, my Mom and Dad were planning a trip to visit us here in Canada. But, instead of a ride to the airport, my dad rode by ambulance to the nearest hospital. He had been battling a neurological disease for 11 years, and the diagnosis of “pneumonia” was life-threatening in his condition.
What followed was a series of phone calls back and forth with my siblings. “Should we come?” It was a hard decision. He had had close calls in the years previous, but had managed to make it through.
One evening we got the news that Dad’s condition seemed to be improving. We went to bed that night relieved and thinking he was heading towards recovery.
When our phone rang in the dead of night, I didn’t even need to answer it to know what it would be. The doctor had described my dad’s last breaths so graciously to my mom. He said, “Jim’s heart stopped beating. We’d get it started and it would stop again. It was if he had been to a better place and wanted to stay there.”
Ahh…Heaven!
I know there are no “Do-Overs” in life, but if there were, I would want to get to that hospital on time. I would tell my dad thank you. And , “I love you”. And I would kiss his weather-worn cheek.
I know in the big scheme of things the outcome wouldn’t be different if I had gotten there on time. But I wish I could have honored him in that way.
Family
I have some very vivid memories of the time I spent with my family before and after Dad’s funeral. But, by far the most precious one was when we all gathered together at the funeral hall for the “viewing”. We had all gone to the casket to say our good-byes and we sat down to a few silent, awkward moments. I’ll never forget what happened next. My brother started singing,
“When peace like a river…”
and one-by-one we all joined him…
“attendeth my way.
When sorrows like sea-billows roll.
Whatever my lot
Thou hast taught me to say.
It is well.
It is well with my soul.”
The greatest gift my dad ever gave me was my heritage of faith. My parents and grandparents all had a close relationship with Jesus -the Saviour of our souls. And because of their desire to teach us kids the Way of the Lord, we were able to sing that song during a time of deep sorrow. Oh…the hope of Heaven is indescribable!
Grief Changes You (Don’t fight it!)
As the years go by, I’ve discovered a fascinating phenomenon. As the anniversary of Dad’s death approaches, I think of him much more. It’s as if the grief is sort of “fresh” again. I didn’t understand at first what was going on. But a friend of mine explained that that is a normal part of the grieving process. “The body never forgets”, she said.
I’ve learned to accept this as a normal part of “me”…and to rejoice that I have so many great memories to hold on to.
So, as I sit in church and
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sing about Heaven
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or hear about my Heavenly Father
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or watch Grandpas with their grandkids
I’ll probably tear up a little…or alot…
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or if the worship leader decides to sing “It is Well With my Soul”…
I’ll cry buckets…buckets and buckets.
But, I’m fine- really. It’s just part of “me”. I joke with those sitting by me that I have 2 options:
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I’m going to cry, or
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I’m going to throw up on you.
They, without fail, choose the tears!:)
Here’s my dad at about age 18 on his Navy ship during the Korean War.
And here he is holding our oldest son. He was 2 when Dad passed away.
I asked him recently if he remembered Grandpa Jim.
“Oh, yes”, he said.
“I don’t remember much. Just that he loved kids!” 🙂
Rita, that was beautiful. thank you for sharing it.
love,
heather
Really glad your mind wandered this morning. It was really neat to read these memoirs of your dad. I love life stories. Very special, and very stirring! Glad I'm not the only one who tears up buckets at church. 😉
<3 ~Keely
i remember him a lot Rita, i remember one christmas he gave all us boys whips and i thought it was the greatist thing ever. and everyone should remember his chippy chompers. he is missed but we will all get to see him again.
How great thou art was my moms favorite…we played it at her memorial service…and I heard it for the first time since then while shopping in a thrift store today…then I came here tonight and read this….chills…. And tears!!!
Robin
Thank you for sharing this, Rita! I have so many warm memories of visiting your home as a little girl.
Sitting here with tears in my eyes. Wonderful story, Rita Joy. Love that you share your life so freely! Love that the Lord has given you a godly heritage!
Thank you for your sweet words, friend!🌸
😢. There are so many that are sorely missed now, Rita!
It really doesn’t matter how long they have been gone, we continue to love and miss them. Thanks for sharing.
So sorry for your loss! But what a wonderful remembrance of him!
Loved this post 💜 So much you wrote resonates with my life. Lost my Dad, my mom has Alzheimer’s and my husband passed from cancer 6 months ago. I am slowing coming out of my fog and trying to lean more into God. Thank you for your words.
Rita, what lovely memories you have of your dad and the Christian legacy he left you. “It Well With My Soul” is my favorite hymn, even if I can’t sing it without crying. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
P.S. No Tears in Heaven is another good one.
Beautiful words. ❤
Hi Rita! I loved the blog about your dad. I also missed being with both my parents when they passed by mere minutes. Maybe that was how it was supposed to be. I don’t know. He sounds wonderful! And I see your sons in him!