Good-bye for now, Dad

My Tribute to Dad, My Hero
April 27, 2009
Read at Dad's Celebration Service

Just a little over a year ago, we celebrated the home going of Mom with a tribute of songs and spoken memories. And today we celebrate the home going of Dad. Standing here now, it is difficult to express all the thought going through my mind as I reflect on the life of my very own hero, my Dad.
Growing up as a child, I was quite in awe of Dad. His six foot four stature made him seem like a giant. I always looked up to Dad not just because he was tall but because he was such a unique Dad. His life experiences were so varied….he became a pilot as a teenager, drove a cab, drove a bus, learned to use a printing press from his Dad, became an evangelist, an ordained minister, Youth For Christ director, a missionary pilot, drove a truck pulling mobile homes state to state to supplement our income, founded Missionary Flights International, loved being a song leader, played the accordion and keyboard, sang in a quartet and personally built a log home in the Ocala National Forest where our parents retired. Dad was a great story teller and entertained us with his exciting ‘airplane’ stories. For years we said, “Dad, you’ve got to write those stories down so we will always have them.” Thankfully, Dad did write those stories down and became an author of a very interesting book, titled “Yours for a Meeting in the Air.”
Dad was very tenderhearted. He loved animals, particularly cats. Dad shed many tears over the woes of his feline friends though the years. Dad couldn’t kill any living thing, even an unwelcome snake in our yard sale here in Chattanooga years ago. He captured the snake in a container and drove through the tunnel to let it out on the other side. Over the years, Dad fed birds, squirrels, foxes, raccoons, cranes and any stray animal that came around.
Dad was a trooper! The last ten years he was a devoted caretaker to Mom, struggled to adjust to his retirement from his life work with Missionary Flights International, relocated out of state and out of his life, became a widower after 58 years of marriage, sold the beloved log ho0me he built, was diagnosed a year ago with bone cancer, an aneurysm and had numerous ups and downs with his blood thinner. But he kept on going without complaint. He bought a GPS and acclimated himself to getting around the Chattanooga area. Dad was always willing to join us for whatever we were doing….like Monday night Tacos, the circus, Dollywood, Disney On Ice, eating out, a ball game, riding the carousal at Coolege Park, family activities with grand kids and great grand kids. It was amazing to see Dad so adaptable and spontaneous.
Dad was very sentimental. He loved and prayed for his family every day. He loved traditions. He loved marking milestones. He loved the hugs from his great grandchildren. Dad was a servant who spent his life serving the Lord.
Dad looked forward to Sunday. It was a blessing to sit beside Dad during worship service as he was always deeply touched with emotion. This was unlike his usual reserve that I’d observed my entire life. Dad himself often marveled over this new response and didn’t quite know how to deal with it. I told him it was a good thing and to be thankful for this new spiritual sensitivity in worship. Dad loved music! He ALWAYS loved the orchestra and choir numbers. The first time he visited Brainerd Baptist, the orchestra was playing a lively number as we walked down the aisle to our seats. I thought Dad was about to dance in the aisle. His eyes lit up! He exclaimed to me after we sat in the pew, “Wow! I’ve come to the right place.” He loved his Sunday school class. He loved Dr. Land. He loved Pastor Robby. He loved learning from the Word. One Sunday dinner, our family was eating together and Dad said, “Well, that message was JUST for me!” Several of us took turns saying, “No, it was for me.” Our difference in age ranged from the 30’s to the 80’s but it didn’t matter because we are all learning individually and coming together as a family.
I sure will miss the phone calls that began with, “How is my dear daughter Nancy? “ I will miss hearing him play his keyboard at home or at the nursing home concerts. I loved watching his feet tap out the rhythm as he played. I loved his snappy way of dressing and how he’d usually ask me what I thought of his outfits. I will miss his laugh. His sentimental ways. I am going to miss looking out for him. Our family has another missing place. But we know it is for a short season. We know we will be reunited someday in heaven.
Standing by his hospital bed with my hand on his chest, I felt his heart stop beating. Good-by for now Dad. But it won’t be for long. There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears. There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more, and we’ll see Jesus face to face. As Dad always signed his letters, “Yours for a meeting in the air.”