
Back then I wished he could've helped Elisabeth with her college decisions. I wished he could've dialogued with all the girls and answered their questions. I wished he could've played his role as "Grandpa" to our grandsons, one of whom he never met. I wished he could've weighed in on so many decisions I had to make without him, decisions about the house, a car, our finances. He always seemed to know what to do.
Looking back, I see God's grace standing out bold on the calendar pages of the past 36 months. We made it . . . all this time. But that doesn't mean we didn't feel the ache in our hearts. And now I grieve for him in additional ways. I long for his comfortable companionship and the balance he brought to my life. I miss making his favorite dinner, hearing about his many ventures, and planning this year's garden together. How often have I wanted to ask his thoughts about my writing and speaking? "Does this make sense? Is this topic relevant? Do these ideas sound okay? What's missing?"
I feel for our girls . . . as each of them is in a different place now. They would benefit from his knowledge and wisdom - on education, relationships, gardening, parenting, and on and on. We often find ourselves saying, "What would Dad say?" It helps . . . a little.
Before I rose to walk home, I traced my finger over the words under his name: "Life-long Learner; Loved God and Others." Always for the other guy, that's just the kind of man he was! And somehow I gather up the courage to move ahead and "run with perseverance the race marked out for me," grateful for God's new measure of grace every single day.
I love you, Barry. We miss you.
Oh, Sarah, you brought a flood of memories of these eleven years since my dad died. I felt as you did and do. The agony, the tears, the frustration and even a little anger.
ReplyDeleteBut now, I can finally look at his photo without breaking down, finally talk about him, hear people sing the hymns I loved hearing him sing. I too wish he were here to see his great-grandchildren. And our daughter who married in December wanted him to walk her partway down the aisle. But life goes on, and if I want those grandchildren to know their great-grandfather, it will have to be through our stories of him.
Sometimes, the Holy Spirit comforts me with visions of Dad in heaven, the most recent of him strumming his guitar and worshipping Our Lord in song! This was amazing because Dad wasn't one to do that, preferring a quiet, non-demonstrative form of worship. And another time, the Lord brought a thought of my dad meeting Johnny Cash! In fact, I may write a story about that someday, "The Day My Dad Met Johnny Cash"!
Thank you for sharing your heart. Blessings, Sarah!
Thanks for your thoughts, Cathy. The passing of time helps, but once in a while I find tears dripping off my chin. Grateful for good memories . . . Blessings to you.
DeleteSara I am so sorry for your loss. I identify with it. Grace meets us at every moment.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Marilyn.
DeleteSarah, what a beautiful post you wrote here - so heartfelt and honoring. Even though I only met Barry once, in my heart I share in missing him - for your sake. Grief is yet another life journey we all experience. So thankful to have a Lord who understands our heartache and carries us through to where we think of the ones we've lost with fewer tears and greater thanks.
ReplyDelete"Fewer tears and greater thanks." Thanks, Cheryl, for your good thoughts.
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