Thanks Dad, See You in Heaven

On January 28, 2002 at 9 PM, my dad breathed his last breath and slipped from time into eternity. He was seventy-four years old. His tired lungs just stopped working.

He died peacefully because he finally was at peace with God -- after a lifetime of resisting the gospel and running from God.

His journey to God hit warp speed when he flat-lined while in the ER on October 11, 2001. The doctors were able to revive him, but more importantly, the Lord visited him.

While laying on his back in the emergency room, he came face to face with the God of eternity and lived to tell about it. He told my brother that when his heart stopped he had a vision that God was giving him one last chance. In the vision, as he watched the doctors frantically trying to revive him, he suddenly saw a whiskey bottle, a pack of cigarettes, a handgun, and a Bible floating around his lifeless body in the emergency room.

He knew he had a choice to make. He decided in that moment to choose the Bible rather than the things that were destroying his life.

Three months later, he would face God again, this time forever. This time, he was ready.

While on the plane trying to get to Mississippi to see Dad one more time, I wrote what would be my last words to him. I read them at his funeral a few days later. Here’s what I wrote:

Thanks, Dad, for never missing a baseball game, basketball game, football game, track meet, birthday party, or anything else that mattered as I was growing up.

Thanks for being there for me,
    - every time I crossed the finish line at a high school track meet,
    - when I fell through the frozen lake while duck hunting when I was nine,
    - when Mike Croswell’s easy grounder rolled under my glove at second base, costing us the Little League championship.

You were always there for me, and I’m glad the Lord allowed me to be there when you crossed your final finish line.

Thanks for trusting me, accepting me, and supporting me especially when I,
    - grew long hair in the ’70s,
    - quit the football team in tenth grade,
    - became a pastor rather than your business partner,
    - moved to the other side of the world to be a missionary.

Thanks for teaching me,
    - to ride a bike and drive a car,
    - to throw a baseball and hit a golf ball,
    - to fly fish and quail hunt,
    - to work hard and save money,
    - to write a check and pick a mutual fund
    - to be a real boy and a real man,
    - to be a good son and a good father.

Happy Father’s Day, Dad. I miss you and will see you in a few years.

"Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you." (Exodus 20:12)

(Check out Ferdie Cabiling's Father's Day blog called "What does it Take to be a Real Dad?")

(Watch this short vid for a pix of what a father is really like, especially our Father in heaven. He is there for us when we hurt, when we fall, when we need help finishing the race He marked out for us.)

Comments

[Thelma Bowlen]

Re-reading this since you last posted it still got me teary-eyed.

It's been thirty years since my Dad passed away; all I have to do is look at his old pictures and I am seven years old all over again - his little girl whom he loved dearly.

Father's Day has never been the same for me since then. But I thank God for finding me and calling me his.

No matter how old I am, in His eyes, I will always be His girl.

as soon as i started reading what you have said to your dad in his funeral, tears just keep on rolling down my cheeks..

[John Pringle]

Isn't it grand that your Dad spent some of your greatest times with you as opposed to missing them. As much as it was important to you at the time, I find that our spiritual father treats us the same... There when we need him regardless of our state of maturity, although we ought to be there when he wants to send us out...

How respectful was your Dad of your life decisions when the time to choose came, how blessed did it in turn help him decide who to turn to when God gave him a second chance...

Your Dad was there for you when you needed him and your choices made it so that you were there for him when it best applied to his life end decision.

Thanks for sharing your heart, it has blessed me today.

[Liz Lowson]

Steve,
I just want to say i like the fact you are real, layback, and you have Jesus just coming through and out of you. i loved listening to you when at ENMelb. I read your above bit about your dad,so prepared to be 'out there' for us to read your heart.Yes,of course I had tears. I wish i had a dad always there for me, mine was a busy pastor.
As I write Ps. 45:2 and Ps. 46:10 come to mind for you.
Shalom, Liz

[Liz Lowson]

Come to Melbourne again please, soon.
Liz

[Zenaida Seo]

A hearthfelt & inspiring stories of yours. I remember my father who passed away Dec. 2004 when i was in Japan. I'm attending service then in Grace Bible Church in Yokohama & Scout Douma as our pastor. I remember Eriko, my hawaiinjin friend Mrs. Coble,Noriko i miss them... Since i came back to Philippines 2005 dec i hev no spiritual guidance. I want it back pls. help me. I'm planning to attend service on sunday in d fort but bit hesitate i know no one, i want to feel a family like atmosphere when i was in japan. I also bring my 2 yrs 9mos. old son. Thank's much...

[puma shoes]

Your literary grace intoxicating! It is not bear to forget! Fascinated by your blog! Well you can make friends?

[Christian Louboutin High Heels]

Patty thanks for this great idea. I used it at my workshop last night. My mom has the big shot and my window sheets hadn't been open yet and were ok--not smokey smelling surprisingly. Felt like I at a little wow to show thanks to you.