Celebrations/Farewells

If you fall off the horse, don’t cry, get right back on and ride. Just because you hit the ditch you will still drive home. Tell the truth and the consequences will not be so bad. Share your toys, be gentle and kind, clean up the tool shed and stay away from the dugout. Go to church, read your Bible and love the Lord your God with all your heart. Things my father said to me.
The list goes on and on, but one thing was not taught in words, it was by example and that was love. Never give up and go the extra mile and love unconditionally.
My father was a gentleman who could romance my mother with poems and kisses and would plant flowers to bring to her to brighten her day. He would direct his children with few words, with silence you were fine, good was great and no meant no there were no exceptions. With daily devotions he guided our spiritual life and with prayers he committed our safety in God’s hands because he knew he couldn’t be everywhere with us.
He loved to drive and travel. We were never lost but told to not to go the same way twice. We shared a love of chocolate, he would take the icing off his chocolate cake and lay it at the side to eat at the end and I would steal it. We never went to town to buy groceries when we didn’t get a little bag of rosebuds or whatever bulk chocolate Mr. Buekert had in his store. He loved to ride horses, and when I was two he put me on the horse as he rode on the stone bolt hauling hay, starting my love of riding. In church he would draw pictures for me to keep me occupied and quiet and so I started drawing and painting. He taught me how to handle clay and create and so I create. He showed me how to grow things and make the best-fried potatoes ever. He started out with two daughters and so did I. Then God blessed him with a son and blessed me with a stepson. He was the best grandfather that could Indian leg wrestle two girls at once. Life is not easy, but he showed me by example not to give up to choose to go on and to hope for the best. He could put others at ease and talk to anyone and as he went through the world he shared his faith. And so I believe and share my faith. When I close my blue eyes I see his blue eyes smiling at me and I take that image with me where ever I go.
I am privileged to be his daughter and as I held his hand as he left to go live with his heavenly father these words came to mind, “as for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.” Good-bye for now Dad I will see you again soon watch for me.
Watch over us...Oct 14, 2010