My all-time favorite of Mom & Dad
Roy’s 92 year old dad has left us to go “fishing with Jesus”, as our bro-in-love Tim puts it! From a routine CT scan turned suspicious on June 24th to a diagnosis of metastatic melanoma on July 31st and to passing away on August 21st, we are so thankful Roy’s dad’s suffering did not last long. We are so thankful for the internet cooperating so that we could do a video chat via FaceTime with Dad and Mom and sis Lynn and bro-in-love Tim on July 28th while Dad was still strong enough to get about. We had about 45 minutes of catching up, a bit of laughing, and plenty of prayers together. We spoke of his diagnosis and oncoming death and I was struck by his smile and yes, welcoming acceptance, evident on his face, when talking of that approaching time. We also were able to talk with Dad and all the night before he died, the eve of our retirement party at the CEFA farm. Dad told us he loved us, and he blessed us and told us to carry on and not to worry about him. We were undone – a precious and holy moment, words from a man of deep faith and deep love, a man who had lived life fully. He is free from pain and with the Lord now, and though we know this, we are grieving and we miss him dearly. Oh, the memories we cherish; from fishing to taking communion together, from walking and chatting to enjoying their lovely patio in the late afternoons, from goofiness and laughing to reading the Word together, the list goes on and on.
Please pray for Roy’s mom, who has Alzheimer’s. Dad was her full-time caretaker in these most recent months, her loving hubby of 69 years and I can’t remember the last time they spent a night apart, maybe back in the ‘70’s when Dad traveled for work a bit. Mom still knows us and is being well taken care of, but I’m sure she’s feeling confused and lost without Dad. Please pray peace for Mom. Peace to Dad’s memory.
