Vale - Mike in Oz - 6.8.18

My dad reflected to me the characteristics of our Heavenly Father, for our "God is love."

Our dad was love.

It was his strongest characteristic. He loved his family, his friends,

he really loved being Poppa!

His grandchildren held a special place and our Great-poppa loved dearly loved his great-grandies too!

He loved people - teaching, painting, being helpful to any in need, generous, kind.

I'd like to share two memories.

Friday 27^th, a good day, dad was very lucid. As I was hunting for something, finding it, dad said: “what was lost, is found”.

I turned around amazed and said “dad, do you know where that comes from?

 It is the story of the three lost things!”

Read in Luke 15, of the lost sheep, lost coin and lost son. At end of each it says “rejoice with me, for I have found that which was lost.” And “there is joy in the presence of the angels in heaven over one sinner who is sorry for his sin.”

We looked on mobile at a painting of the Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus, carrying his little lost sheep on His shoulders.

That’s us dad, I said. He loves and carries His little lost sheep safely home. Home is heaven.

We read of it, for it is a truly beautiful place, no sin, sorrow, sickness darkness, pain or tears.. it’s as real as the world outside, without all its flaws.

Dad’s bright blue eyes now had a look of wonderment.  I asked if he believed in God and the dear Lord Jesus who came to find and save us? He said clearly, “I didn’t, but I do now.”

I was very privileged to be with my dad on his last day – Mon 6th Aug.

Knowing from personal experience when unconscious you can hear things, voices, etc. I read to him from the old well-worn Anglican prayer book from our youth, read some of the beautiful prayers for times like this, which are full of the glorious promises to each of us from God’s word.

Reading too in same book some of the comforting Psalms, Dad’s breathing became more relaxed, quieter - as the word flowed over his spirit.

I then sang three hymns, I knew he would know * Amazing Grace, *Just A Closer walk with Thee, and * the Lord is my Shepherd.

For Dad now loved the Good Shepherd. 

As we came to:

“…Goodness and mercy all my life Shall surely follow me;
And in God’s house forevermore, My dwelling place shall be..”

.. dad gave a sigh and passed over.

Dad’s peace in passing was remarkable - remarked upon by many..

 – by family, but most of all by caring wonderful staff at the nursing home, who see this sort of thing often.

In his last few days dad was so very peaceful – for he’d met the One Who is the Prince of Peace.

 

 Thanks so much for all of you who've prayed and sent loving thoughts this way.

You're deeply appreciated. I am taking leave from blogland for few months but will be back, God willing. :D

Lord bless and keep you all and I pray you too like dad ...whether  you are 12 as I was or 89 like my dad, You will come to know the LORD Jesus as our own Saviour. 

If we could get to heaven on our own merit, by what we do, there was no need for Jesus to come and die for us - which is a historical fact. We need the risen LORD as our Saviour today!

Hugs, and may prayers,

Shaz in Oz.x 

(Photos either my own or via Google.)