Christianity Oasis Forum

[Timothy]

My Dad passed on to be with our Lord on Saturday, May 21, 2011, sometime between 5:45 pm and 6:00 pm.

He had experienced an increasing challenge with dementia for about four years. He was barely able to care for himself.
The time was fast approaching where he wouldn't have been able to address his personal daily needs.
The good Lord spared him of this final stage of dementia. God took him quickly in his final moment.
While we will miss our dad and grandfather, yet we rejoice for the grace and mercy of our God.
Thanks to Jesus we know where our dad is right now. We know where he will be forever more.
We know of the place of love and joy, warmth and comfort, where he will spend eternity.
We praise our God.

As family gathered and supported each other, we began to talk of our recolections of our Dad.

We shared our memories of walking to church with dad with his long strides. We'd have to run a few steps and walk a
couple, then run afew and walk a couple...all the way to church. And when we got to church, we took up a whole pew.

Mom commented about one day when she was pregnant with her fifth child she had looked out the window as the older
ones walked to church. They were lined up behind dad and walking with their hands in their back pockets, just like dad.
They looked like a row of ducks walking down the street.

Another commented on when we went ice skating at the boat slip. There he taught us to ice skate and to race. My dad was a champion speed skater himself. As a youngster, he and several others skated across the Detroit River to Canada.

Another noted how well respected dad was in the community. As a kid, he had explored the entire city on his own.
This in a day when there were "very defined" ethnic boundries. One just didn't cross those boundries. But he was too young to know that. He went everywhere. Everyone knew this kid. As goes, everyone knew this man. Everyone speaks of his kindness, helpfulness, generosity everywhere we go in this city. Anyone needed anything, he was there. My dad was in no way a major player in the city. My dad was a quiet, unassuming, gentle, kind soul. He was very smart. He could fix anything! And he fixed everything! Often times he gave of himself out of his own heart. He taught us about self sacrafice. He showed us to do for others without expecting anything in return. Although many times he was repaid with some sort of baked goods for the family.
Even on this evening, as the word spread, the neighbors came by and talked of his generosity and support he often gave to them, setting the example of what it means to be a good neighbor.

Another shared that there were only three things that we "had" to do as kids. Go to school, speed skate, and go to church. My dad seldom missed church. And if he did, he went to confession seeking forgiveness.

We remembered various trips and vacations we took. How resourceful dad was. He could pack a car like no one else.
He even found a way to pack all us eight kids into the car as well.

We shared how we kids are so much like our dad. Everything had to have a place and everything had to be in its place.
We're not sure if this was some kind of OCD or a necessity with a 10 member family.

My siblings share how dad had changed at different stages in our lives. How he treated us as teenagers as opposed to when we were younger, as opposed to when we were grown. I, myself, saw no differences. He was always kind hearted, hard working, devoted, loving, giving of himself, helping others as the Lord had set other's needs before him.

His cousin commented on how "they" don't make men like our father any more.
Mom commented that she thinks God broke the mold after making dad.
She had mentioned how proud he was of all his kids, how he carried all our pictures in his wallet and shared them and
boasted of us to anyone with an ear to hear.

We have been blessed to have been given such a father to raise us. I pray I can be at least half the man he was.

Thank you for allowing me to share a bit of my father, my teacher, my mentor, my provider, my protector, my hero, my dad with you. I think my dad was most definately made in the image of our Father.

God bless you my brothers and sister. Rejoice in the Lord!

God's peace be with you.
Timothy

[kimby]

Thank you for sharing Timothy. Your father sounds like an outstanding man! My prayers are with you during this time.

[stillstanding]

ty for sharing, Timothy
what a great example your dad was
\o/
much love and blessings, brother
peace and comfort

[Dora]

What wonderful memories! I laughed, I cried, I smiled. My heart was warmed. I can just see the kids lined up behind dad with hands in their pockets walking like ducks in a row.

Thank you for sharing. I saw a glimpse of Jesus in your writing.

[Christianity Oasis]

I have spoken with Timothy on this matter and I see his FAITH will see him thru which will assure those in his life who are also hurting will overcome as His faith is a well lit lamp and he will keep their lil candles lit.

But ... I would like to share thoughts with all who partake of these tidings who have or will experience the loss of a loved one.

At such times most souls know not what to say to one who has lost someone who means so much to them ...

But ...

The Bible shares exactly what to say ...

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, (Passed on from this realm to the next) that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the ArchAngel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together WITH THEM in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we EVER be with the Lord. Wherefore COMFORT ONE ANOTHER WITH THESE WORDS.

We are taught not to be sorrowful as if there is no HOPE.

They are not DEAD and GONE.

Understanding, believing, and trusting that your loved one is truly in a better place now is vital to your soul. The reward that we hope for as Christians, the reward we long for and await every day of our lives is the life that your loved one is experiencing now.

To grieve FOR THEM, is to grieve for their receiving the reward …

The promise, that we all live and strive for.

People always try and console others who lose a loved one by saying “They’re in a better place now.”

Nothing could be closer to the TRUTH.

So, what we are truly doing is working on overcoming our own grief for our own loss.

TRUTH will set you FREE.

Learn more of this TRUTH:

http://www.christianityoasis.com/Keyword/LostLove.htm
http://www.christianityoasis.com/Keywor ... sBosom.htm


REJOICE ... As this soul has no more pain, no more tears and is surrounded by more love than we can imagine.

This soul is ... Happy and safe.

And if you could hear them ...

You would hear:

Continue the race, fight the good fight of faith, never surrender and I will see you at the finish line.

Comfort one another with these words of TRUTH.

Luv all of ya

[Dora]

Timothy has huge faith. I am certain God is proud of him for many reasons.

Even in his time of loss he is a testimony to others. Very blessed to call him brother and friend.

[Timothy]

You are all so very wonderful!
Thank you for your love and support.

In John 11:25 Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and life.
He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live."

Thank you for celebrating my dad's life with us.

May His peace be with you all.

I Love you,
Timothy

[Dora]

I remember one day when the boys at school let me play baseball with them. I didn't have a mitt so one boy let me borrow his just this once. He had seen how I caught the ball empty handed and he knew from experience that it must of hurt. Though I tried to not show any signs of pain, he knew It hurt.

I ran in the front door after school so excited about playing baseball that day. I remember jabbering on about it a thousand words a minute with such excitement that I couldn't hold still.

Mom shared with Dad how much it had meant to me.

Shortly after Dad came home from work with a wooden bat and a baseball just for me. I didn't get a mitt cause he knew I'd play with all the boys and I think he wanted to keep me away from them a little longer. But boy did I have many days of fun with that bat and ball.

Dad sure gets a super gold star for caring enough to get me that bat and ball. Sometimes he'd take the time to toss the ball to me. I remember him smiling as I hit the ball and it soared over his head. He never said so but I think from the smile on his face he was proud of me at that moment. Many summer days I spent with that bat and ball, hitting it over and over and over.

[Dora]

A young boy went smelt fishing with his dad. Which is done in the cold evenings in the spring when the ice starts to melt on the lakes. Many men were lined up on the dock as they dipped their nets into the ice cold waters. This boy watched as a man persecuted his father during this one evening when his father was trying to spend quality time with the boy by taking him smelt fishing. The father was a preacher. "Come on preach to us Preacher," the man sarcastically said. The persecution went on for most of the late hours of the night. Till the man fell off the doc into the frozen sandy beach. Luckily he hadn't fallen into the icy waters. The man was apparently drunk. The many men on the dock laughed hysterically at the drunk man.

Except one man. This one man left his fishing gear and walked to the end of the dock to help the man up and make certain he was ok.

The man was the one who had been persecuted for hours by this same drunk man. The boys father. Tears welled up in this young preacher mans eyes as he told me this wonderful story about the example of Jesus he saw that day in his dad. Yeah.....he's a preacher man just like his daddy.

I thought this was such a wonderful story. To wonderful to not share!

[ciny]

Pine thankyou for posting this stroy it is hart warming beautiful and a good lesson on forgiveness that i need to learn right now. im glad you posteed it can i copy and paste it so i can have it as a reminder next time i feal unforgivenss creaping up on me? love yas Pine

[Dora]

Love you to Ciny

Sure you can copy it.

[1st Timothy 4:12]

Well, my dad is a big goof ball (I am just like him ). He always knows how to make me laugh, blush, smile, and happy.