Posted by Norm on 7/9/2009, 12:05 am
OK. You're sorta like "family" so indulge this please. At precisely 7:30 p.m. my Dad opened his eyes, looked a bit quizzical facially, took a short, shallow last breath, and died. I was with him when this happened. Just him and me, and whatever he was looking at. He passed in peace; his pastor and my sister and our closest friends held hands yesterday as he was commended to his Lord, and we joined together in that prayer.
Nothing was left unsaid. From any of us. We believe firmly in the Resurrection and the life. As does my Dad. His beloved wife, my Mom, Dorothy and he are together now again. 65 years married. He never got over her death almost 4 years ago. He died with only me, but for the last 3 days was surrounded by the love of his children, his pastor, his friends and his Lord. He lingered, but he died like the soldier and Vet he was: on his own terms, and, to an extent, in control. Am I sad?? Yes. But we had prayed for this. And his death was peaceful.
His (and our) knowledge of things hoped for is, for him, fulfilled. Surrounded by the great cloud of witnesses he left this life at peace, in love, and secure in his faith. So, I am saddened by being now an "orphan," but I have a HUGE family standing beside me. You all know I am not some "zealot." I try to keep my faith real, and realistic. Do I wonder? Yes, indeed! But to see him transition from life to death? Well, for me, I let a tear of joy pass my eyelids. It was NOT sorrow.
I will be a bit out of touch now. Thank you for indulging this personal moment. Ken can edit if he chooses. Thanks. --Norm
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