Tribute 7

I still remember the time so vividly when I was younger, and we were coming home from Georgia.  It was pouring down rain, and traffic had slowed to a crawl along the highway.  Most of us were dozing as we watched the water stream down the windows.  Suddenly, without saying anything, Pop swerved over to the shoulder of the road and put the car in park.  I popped-up from the back seat to see what was going on.  We never pulled off to the side of the road due to heavy rain, in fact sometimes we sped-up.  There was a car parked on the shoulder of the road in front of us with its four-ways on, and it was leaning precariously toward the one side.  Leaving the car running, Pop opened his door and slowly walked up to the car.  I could see him talking to whoever was sitting in the car, and they handed him something.  He walked around to the rear of their car and opened the trunk.  Moving some things around, he pulled out the spare tire and jack, and took them around the side of the car.  Over the next few minutes, Pop’s hands worked like a well-oiled machine as he threw the jack under the car and raised it into the air.  He swapped the flat tire out with a new inflated tire, and making sure that all the bolts were tightened, he lowered the car.  He placed the flat tire, and jack, neatly back in their trunk, shut the lid, and walked back to their window.  I could see him shaking his head, and simply extending his hand for a handshake.  Opening the driver’s door of our car, he slid into his seat soaking wet.  Mom handed him a t-shirt that we had found laying on the floor, and he wiped his face, looked in the side mirror, and pulled back out into traffic.

That is a simple example of how Pop lived his life.  His love for others radiated in everything that he did, and dictated his actions.  This love that he showed had been learned.  Pop’s love, and life, were influenced by the example that he found in Christ, and the love that he experienced from that relationship.

The day after Pop passed away, we opened his Bible and it fell open to a verse that he had highlighted many years ago, and one that meant a great deal to him.  Interestingly enough, it a verse that had significant influence on Joel during his time in Australia, before we knew of Pop’s illness.  The verse is Phillipians 1:21:  “To live is Christ, to die is gain.”  These words were written by the Apostle Paul when he was imprisoned.  Paul didn’t know whether he would live or die, but he was confident, and hopeful in either outcome.  The same rang true in Pop’s life.  The love that was shown to him by Christ, propelled him to live in such a way that was honoring to Him.  He found joy in serving, and life in loving others.  Whether it was washing dishes, building houses, riding bike, or caring for his family, Pop did it to the very best of his ability as if doing it for the Lord. 

And he did it with so few words.  Rather than talking about what he felt he should do, he did it.  He lived his life as an example.  Many of the ways that he touched each one of our lives was through his actions, not his words.  He allowed Christ to work through him to show love, compassion, peace, strength, and humility. 

Through this whole experience, an amazing testimony was the fact that Pop never feared death.  He wanted to fight this disease with all his strength, and believed full-well that Christ could miraculously take his disease away, but ultimately he wanted to see God glorified, and he wasn’t afraid to die.  Walking along-side of him, I was in awe of his courage and peace.  How could he face death with a smile on his face, and gratefulness in his heart?  I’ve found that Pop understood the part of Philippians 1:21, “to die is gain.”  He didn’t want to leave us, but he also knew the joy of what awaited him.  The neatest thing is that we can all have that same hope.  When we know Christ as our savior there is nothing we have to fear, not even death itself.  Rather, death is a home-going.  One of the most beautiful gifts of knowing Christ, is getting to spend eternity with him. 

So, for Pop, living for Christ meant becoming His hands here on earth.  His actions spoke volumes of the God he served, and exemplified the love that he had for people.  But, when it came time for him to say goodbye to life on this earth, he gained more than we can fathom. 

We can’t thank you enough Pop for teaching us all that you could in your time here.  Thank you for teaching us to work hard, and to love others.  To show grace, and to be a friend.  To find our foundation in a relationship with the Maker who sacrificed it all.  Thank you for being a father, a best friend, a neighbor and a colleague.  You taught us how to live…and in the end…you taught us how to die. 

We will miss you Pop, but you are never far from us; and we will see you again soon.

Tribute 6

Tribute given by Joel:

     As we sat in the silent room the night of dads passing with only the noise of sniffling noses and Emma’s occasional call for someone to come play with her, there was a flood of memories that seemed to be endless. And with tears still streaming down our faces we began to share some of our fondest memories of dad, the one story  that I was not proud of, but showed the great character dad had, was the story of dads most recent truck, the one in which he had dreamed about for quite some time. After the purchase of this truck just a few months later I received my license, and with my jeep not yet road worthy, that meant I was going to be driving the truck. A young boy with a lead foot was probably not the ideal person behind the wheel of dads new purchase, and just a few months after I began driving it the tires were warn bare, and as dad got new tires put on all he said with a little chuckle was, “looks like someone has been getting on the gas a little too hard…” and then a few weeks  after the tire change I was leaving one of my friends houses late one evening, and backed the truck into their mailbox, as my heart sank all I could think about was what dad was going to say? The worst nightmare for any kid is the anticipation of what is to come, so as I slowly drove home taking some back roads killing some time, in hopes that dad might be in bed by the time I got home. But wouldn’t you know it, as I return home and quietly open the front door dad walks out into the kitchen and says, “hey bud, your home late.” Great here was the moment of truth I thought, “Dad I have to tell you something…. With the pause and the look on my face he knew something was coming, waiting for me to go on he stood there with a half grin, thinking to himself, oh boy, what did Joel get himself into this time. And then it came, I shyly said, “I backed your truck up into a mailbox tonight, there is a dent and a pretty nice sized scratch.” He paused for a second that seemed like an eternity and said, “Well did you learn your lesson.” I was taken back, I just put a dent and a big scratch on this truck he loved so much, and he was worried if I had learned my lesson.

     That story pretty much sums up how good I have it, the best parents a kid could ask for. And I believe that God could not have blessed me with a better dad. For those of you that know dad, you know the great man he was. He was a man that could overcome any obstacle, and one to do it with great humility. Some of you are asking yourselves how I turned out so different… that is still unanswered (pause for a roaring laugh).  There are so many things that I have learned from him, so many things I could never forget. Not only did he teach me how to use my hands, he taught me what it was to have a true relationship with the Lord. When they say your earthly father is supposed to be a representation of your heavenly father, this description could have not been more fitting for dad. Dad was a man that led by example, his relationship with the lord was so evident just through his actions, Dad was a man of few words, but when he spoke he had a way of quieting a room. The life he lived so deliberately was one of complete servant hood. When something needed to be done, he was the first one there and never expected anything in return.

     As I spent these last few months with dad, there was so much that I was able to learn about life. When we first learned of the diagnosis, there were so many questions that I was hit with. One day as dad and I were driving I looked over and asked, “Dad if you could do anything over again, what would it be?” With a few seconds passing dad answered, “You know, I lived a full life, and I wouldn’t change anything.” Part of me just thought maybe he was saying this, until he followed up with saying, “God has blessed me, I was fortunate enough to do everything I wanted to, and now I have seen all my kids grow up to be the individuals I knew they could be.” With a tear making its way down my cheek I gently said, “So what are we going to do about this whole situation?” dad responded reassuringly, “I’ll fight it with all I have and leave the rest in the Lords hands.” Over the next few months dad’s strength slowly slipped away from him, even in his weakest moments, dad was still the strongest man I ever knew. I love You Dad