Three Years On

September 3, 2009 was like any other day.  It was one of the days I went into my office, rather than working from home.  I remember that I was beginning to wrap up my day when my brother called. The message he bore was completely unexpected - our father had died suddenly.  Time literally stood still and for the next days and weeks, time became something of a surreal concept.  It seemed unreal that Dad was gone and that we no longer had him.

But time has a funny way of readjusting itself.  Time does, in fact, march on and to use another tired adage, it (time) does heal all wounds.  It's funny, though, how anniversaries open up those wounds, even if only a little bit. Today is that day when the wound of my father's passing opens up a little.  I've decided that's OK.  It's OK to still miss my Dad.  The stunningly patient and mighty fine SML lost her dad nearly 20 years ago and she still misses that good man.  It's more than OK to miss those people who had such a profound impact on our lives.

Dad was an example of tremendous patience, kindness, and concern for others. His legacy lives on in the lives of the people he touched, taught, and served.  I am grateful that that legacy touched the lives of my children.  I hope they'll never forget the impact he had on their lives.  I'm also grateful that he took the time to write down so much of what was important to him in this life.  Those writings will serve as a testament of what he believed and who he was.

He was a great man.  I'm a part of that legacy, as I, along with my brother, carry his name forward.  I'm so glad for the time that we had together.  I find great peace in knowing that I will see him again.  He believed in   God's plan of salvation and he knew he would see his family again.  I know that too.  This time without him is brief in the eternal scheme of things.  I'm glad to know I'll see him again.

I'm glad I had a good man as a Dad.  Hard to believe he's been gone three years.