My dad died on Friday night and I can’t believe that I am about to say this, but it was good.  I did not have any anger or animosity towards him, I had taken some time prior to this night to deal with the petty things that I was hanging on to.  He was unconscious for the last week, but I still talked to him hoping he heard me.  My dad had been sick for a while and part of me expected a miracle recovery.  You see, my dad had cancer and was given three years to live five years ago.  Then last year, he had a heart attack.  I received the call about 4AM and was told by the nurse to get down to the hospital because he was not going to make it through the day.  That was just a few hours before I was to catch a flight.  Missing that flight changed my life for the good, but that is a much longer story.  Back to my dad, the next 24 hours would be a series of treatments to get him well enough for heart surgery.  The doctors discovered a heart valve that was not in the MRI, they repurposed it and he was home 5 days later.  The doctors and nurses repeatedly called it a miracle.

Fast forward a year to Friday night.  I had just taken my mom home and was heading north on the 405 when my niece Heather called.  She was crying hard and I could not understand her, but I knew what had happened.  He was gone.  I turned off the radio and started to pray, then asked God to speak to my heart.  The initial tears were soon replaced by peace in my heart.  When I arrived back at the hospital, my peace was reinforced as I entered the room.  Seeing my dad laying there without machines or tubes, looking absolutely peaceful in a way that I have not seen him in several years.  As we gathered, there was a lot of sadness, but strangely I felt comforted.  I was sad, but I also felt a little bad for not being more upset like some of my other family members.

I was really encouraged by my mom as I watched how she held up.  My mom has always been strong and caring, but I have not seen that side of her in years do to her own illness.  On Friday night she reappeared and was very wise and comforting to everyone.  At the end of the evening when everyone had departed, I was sitting in a chair off to the side of the bed and I am not sure she knew I was there.  I watched her approach my dad and talk to him.  She used his nickname which I have not heard in a long time and I know it would have thrilled my dad to hear her address him this way.  I wont tell you what she said, that is for them only, but it was very sweet and to me it reinforced the values that I had always been taught.  My parents met in 10th grade, over 50 years ago, and they have only known each other.  My mom quietly left the room never acknowledging me.  It did not occur to me to take out my phone and get a photo of her talking to him, but I don’t think I will ever forget that moment.

Early in the evening everyone held hands and I said a prayer requesting peace and comfort for everyone.  This is the only time I can think of that the family prayed together when it wasn’t Thanksgiving.  At the end of the prayer, there was silence for what seemed like a while, then my nephew Ryan, with a big smile says “Now that grandpa is in heaven, he can walk again.”  (His legs had gotten weak the last few months and walking was difficult).  At that moment, his big sister Heather, in a very proud way, put her arm around him and pulled him close.  I can’t tell you how much I love these two kids and seeing things like this are a great blessing.  There was much more to the evening and some of my family members who have not yet found their faith were overwhelmed by grief.  While I do not want to diminish their feelings of sadness, what I will always remember about that night is the manifestation of hope that we have, that we all have because Jesus gave us victory over death through the cross and resurrection.  So while I will miss my dad on his birthday in a few weeks, November 11th, and at Thanksgiving and Christmas, I move forward with hope, and a sense of confidence, that I will see him again one day!

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.

Romans 5:1-2