All dogs go to heaven...

So yesterday my mom put our old dog Foster down to rest. He was so old and seemed to be getting worse every time I saw him, I started saying my goodbyes early- like 4 years ago! And yet he still managed to live on every year!

"This is your last Christmas Foster" became sort of a joke in our family. He just wouldn't die. It was a shock that Foster outlived anyone in this life!

And not that we wanted Foster to die, but he just wasn't lookin' too great. He was blind, and eventually he couldn't even hear anymore. Within the last 6 months or so he lost almost half his body weight and was just getting worse and worse.

However, Foster was ol' faithful to my dad. They were buddies, and I think Foster became really sad when my dad wasn't around anymore. When my mom took him to the vet, the vet took one look at him and gave a sort of sympathetic grunt saying "He either has diabetes or cancer." I think that helped my mom feel more at peace putting him down.

He lived a loooooong 16 years of doggie life and enjoyed half of that with our family when we rescued him. I'm sure Foster is just bounding around heaven, tail wagging, meeting up with our other dog Rowdy, and possibly Pockets too. I imagine them running with my dad in heaven, licking him and smiling at him.

Foster, you were well loved. Gonna miss you sweet boy!

Overwhelmed... in the best way possible.

Ok y'all. Can I just share how GOOD and PURPOSEFUL and AWESOME God is?!?

It's only been about a month and a half since my dad went to be with the Lord, but wow. God is so good and doesn't waste anything. Conversations I would have never had with people are happening, being more intentional to pray for others and my family, and just how God constantly reminds me of His abundant lovingkindness towards me and His grace and peace.

The other night I was sitting in bed and I picked up my journal. As I started writing, I was curious to see if I had written anything the year before. Exactly a year ago I had written a prayer for both of my parents, that they would grow more in love with each other and more in love with the Lord and that Christ would just be in every part of their marriage.

I noticed more joy and love in my parents' marriage in the last year of my dad's life and that there was true enjoyment and lots of laughter, all the while my dad's tumor was probably growing inside him.

I turned even further to see if I had written anything 2 years before, but my journal had started on April 2012. That day was filled with prayers of thanksgiving and praise because the tumor that was found in my dad's brain was benign and not cancerous.

That whole story just gives me chills now because as I look back, I can see an even bigger thing happening.

When my dad had his brain tumor and there were many uncertainties. God answered my prayer in a way that I couldn't really understand until now.  You can read about that story here. (and his response below that post is just so great) Yes, God healed him of that tumor and was faithful to answer my prayer in that moment, but our God is not a God who is confined to our timeframe or any time for that matter. Our God sees the whole picture, not just one piece. Because my dad had that tumor, I began to see the frailty of life here on earth. I began to think about what it would be like to lose someone very close to me. I began to be more intentional with my dad in conversations and being more patient with him. I didn't want to take my dad for granted.

Those 2 years were a blessing from God. Who would have known that just two years later he would be diagnosed with cancer. I praise God for giving us that time, for those 2 years that God helped me love my dad with more intentionality and allowed me to experience more of his love in return. I am so thankful that God doesn't waste any of our sorrow, any of our pain, any of our suffering. He is purposeful in every way. He truly does work all things for our good and HIS GLORY!

And He is worthy of all the glory friends! I'm just overwhelmed by His sovereignty and goodness. No, my prayer wasn't answered in the exact way I expected, but I have a hope and peace that I can trust my Lord and my God with everything.

And THAT is what God has so graciously revealed to me in the last couple of days.

overwhelmed by the goodness and mercies of our Lord,
lisa

Dad, with love.

Today was a celebration of my dad's life. Not only remembering my dad and who he was, but Who he lived for. I don't feel like the English words "thank you" expresses how grateful I am to friends and family that came to the service. I was completely blown away to see so many friends there, even ones I hadn't seen in a very long time! What an incredible blessing from the Lord!  I had the privilege to speak at my dad's service, and the following is what the Lord laid on my heart.

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me- the task of testifying about the wonderful good news of God’s grace. Acts 20:24

I don’t think there is just “one word” to sum up my dad. He was so many things to so many people he encountered throughout his life. He was funny, caring, dedicated, faithful, hard working, humble, and the list goes on. My dad didn’t know a stranger and made every person he talked to feel important and valued- which was a lot because he loved to talk to people! I’m sure he’s seeing a lot of people in heaven right now that he maybe met only briefly in his lifetime, but somehow greatly impacted!

My dad deeply loved his family. Looking through some of his drawers and dressers there were pictures of cousins, aunts and uncles, and us kids everywhere. Even though most of them were old pictures, he never took them down. He cherished every card, and I mean every card from us, whether handmade cards from my brother, sweet cards from my sister, or corny birthday cards from me, they were still all hanging up at his desk. Even a poem my brother and I wrote for him in the 3^rd grade was still hanging up by his desk! I know he thought about us a lot and loved us so well. He’d call from work ‘just to talk’, even just for 10 minutes, encourage us with a verse, or even sing us a song. My sweet, sweet mama and daddy shared 35 years together and have been such a testimony of faithfulness and unconditional love. Lovers through thick and thin.

My dad never forced us to be anybody we weren’t. He encouraged us in our extracurricular activities- no matter what they were. And even though he wasn’t always able to be there because of his job, his words of encouragement and telling us how proud he was always meant so much. His love was completely unconditional and never got upset if we didn’t get 1^st place or “win” or whatever the case, he was just so proud of us for going out there and doing our best. His smile and hugs were worth more than any medal or ribbon received.

My dad’s life was never about himself. I know my family can all recall countless times of my dad’s generosity, even when it didn’t seem like he had much to give. I remember one time he passed by a man on the side of the road while I was in the car with him. He mentioned something about going back and talking to him, and I was begging him not to because that meant he would be talking to this stranger for at least 30 minutes and that’s just not what I wanted to do! Well, of course, he turned the car around, drove back, and parked near where the man was. We got out of the car and my dad gave him some food he had in the back of the car. I can’t remember the conversation or even how long it was, but I’m sure he talked to that man about Jesus. He wasn’t about to let that man go without a Bible and the Gospel presented! He even picked up a kid waiting outside in the hot summer heat and gave him a ride where he needed to go. My dad taught me so much about compassion and generosity that I will never forget.

My dad worked hard for our family. He never sought the recognition or praise of man over that of the Lord’s and was a true example of doing all things without complaining. When others would have quit or thrown in the towel, gotten upset and felt sorry for themselves, my dad chose to persevere and endure, to choose joy and praise the Lord. When any other dad might be closed off and want to be alone after long hours of work, my dad was rejuvenated by spending time with us and loving on us.

Not only was his love of family so evident, but his love of the Lord shined brighter than anything else. His Bible would always be open at his place at the table. He wasn’t ashamed to lift his hands high, jump around, and shout praises of joy to the Lord. He wasn’t ashamed to walk up to complete strangers and hand them a small Bible and some snacks. He wasn’t ashamed of the Gospel- The Good News that gave him the very life he lived. Romans 1:16 says “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…” That seemed to be my dad’s life verse… among many others! He lived by the truth of God’s word! The grace and love of Christ poured out from his heart, and he was a true testimony of a faithful, humble servant. He would pray these verses over me as he tucked me in at night, ones I will never forget:

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His countenance on you, and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26

There may not be “one word” to sum up my dad, but if there was one thing my dad lived for, One Person he lived for, it was Jesus Christ. Yes, he loved us very much. He loved others so well and put them before himself. But all of that was just an overflow of his love and passion for Jesus.

Looking back on his life these last couple of weeks with family and friends, and reflecting on my dad’s last months, I see even more clearly how my dad lived for things of eternal value. He truly saw each moment as a gift, definitely didn’t rush through life, and really lived each day as if it were his last. My dad was full of life and shared Life with others.

I am so comforted knowing that he is in heaven now, partying with Jesus and the angels, pain and cancer free, never having to be rushed through a conversation again because he has all eternity! He probably had the biggest welcoming party at the gates as he heard the words from the Lord: “Well done, My good and faithful servant”. I’m sad because I miss him, but I have such joy and peace knowing that Romans 8:18 is true: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” And I know my dad is basking in the glory of God right now, where he was always meant to be.

still joyfully praising,

lisa