Well, Dad, I know I'm a few days late with this post. I tried all day on July 31st to figure out what to say. It's certainly not that I haven't missed you and shed my share of tears mourning your loss over the last year. But all day whenever I would think about you being gone all I could see was you sitting in your recliner with your oxygen mask in place. I couldn't get past the fact that you don't have that silly thing hampering you any longer. And because of that, I could not bring myself to shed one solitary tear.
I received a text message from Janiece that afternoon telling me she was thinking of me. My response (and one that I think you would be proud of) was, "Well, I'M thinking of YOU." You taught us to think of others and not put ourselves and our agenda before theirs. You are already gone and there is no amount of tears or grief that can bring you back. But how much more appropriate would it be to spend the thinking of and praying for some of my dearest friends while they spend the last few days of their mother's life by her side?
Then today while I was going through some emails from last week, I saw one from Wanda Sprauer Viehdorfer who suggested that I listen to this song. It's lyrics so completely fit your circumstance and my feelings. I can't wish you back. I know you're having the time of your life and that's what you lived for. See ya' later!
Have you prayed for a loved one
Struggling hard with pain?
You ask the Lord for healing
But that healing never came;
And in spite of all your efforts
The good Lord called them home;
It's hard to let go
When you're trying to hold on
Now you're down in the valley
Looking up to the sky
And you pray, "Lord, You know what's best
But I don't understand why,"
If you could hear your loved one
Speaking now to you
They'd say, "You wouldn't be grieving
If you only knew."
"If you only knew I'm just going home;
Your prayers have been answered
My sickness is gone;
Things look much better
from Heaven's view
The sun always shines, we're having a time
If you only knew."
"To be absent from the body
Is present with the Lord;
I'm in the arms of Jesus now
And I'm not suffering anymore;
Hand in hand we'll stroll together
Down Heaven's avenue;
We're having a big celebration
if you only knew."
"If you only knew I'm just going home;
Your prayers have been answered
My sickness is gone;
Things look much better
from Heaven's view
The sun always shines, we're having a time
If you only knew."
