Today would have been my Dad's 63rd birthday. Unfortunately, he isn't here to celebrate with. Nine years ago he went home to be with the Lord after a long battle with heart disease. Every year this day comes and instead of it being a good day of remembering him, it always seems to be more of a sad day in remembering that he is not here! As I was talking with God this morning, I felt that I needed to focus on the good I got from my Dad, so here are my thoughts on what I learned from my Dad!
1. I learned that the greatest gift in life is to love. He was a man who gave his whole heart and never regretted. He loved to the ends of the earth.
2. I learned that I couldn't do anything to earn his love. He loved me anyway! Although my Dad wasn't around much for the first 16 years of my life, the day he can back, it felt as if he were never gone.
3. I learned that a flick on the back of my head was a good thing. It was his love pat and something that would be deeply missed.
4. I learned that everyone should have a nickname and that it really makes one feel special. There are so many: Termite, Cryin Ryan, Bubba, Baldy, Spaceshot, BubbleButt, Nickel, Lady Di, it goes on and on!
5. I learned that working hard and giving your all makes a world of difference to those around you who are watching everything you do.
6. I learned that the way you treat people is how you earn respect.
7. I learned that smoking is a terrible addiction that is extremely and almost impossible to break and that it definitely shortens your life!
8. I learned that one man giving his life to Jesus, can affect so many!
9. I learned that ultimately no one can make you happy, you have to be happy with yourself.
10. I learned that very few people get the honor of having that one special person that they fall in love with and will love literally until the day they die.
I definitely miss my Dad, but I can honestly say, I am so thankful that I had him in my life even though it was for such a short time! It is a true blessing to have been his daughter and to have been so loved.
Blessings,
Termite
"There is a time for everything, a season for very activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to rebuild.
A time to cry and a time to laugh
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
A time to search and a time to lose.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speack up.
A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace."
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Very nicely written Terri. I especially like lesson number 3. He was a great Uncle and I miss him too. Even though it was a superficial thing, I loved watching him make the worm tattoo on his belly dance. One of the many things I loved about him.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness Miranda, yes, good memory!
ReplyDeleteI miss his sarcasm. I think it was his secret way of showing his love for everyone in his life. And I remember too...the worm doing a belly dance!
ReplyDeleteThe Dancing Worm! I miss that too! I agree with Nicole, his sarcasm was definitely his way of showing his love but lesson 4 hits home with me. I often wondered what his nickname would have been for my son!
ReplyDeleteTerri,
ReplyDeleteok so I wrote my comment and didn't send..so I'm going to try again....I'm so grateful that you've found away to make what is usually a very unhappy day into positive..I can't believe it has been over 9 years... although I can't relate to you guys not having him in your life for so long... fortunately Jerry & I had him from conception, and anyone who knew him know's if you had him in your life a minute he made an everlasting impression,although I am not an emotional person as you girls there is a few things I need you to know...1st I made a promise to dad many years ago that one day I would tell you I never resented(sp?)or jealous of you for dad coming to California, and even if it was few and far apart times that we were able to be "sisters"It has stuck with me through the years...why this was so important for dad for me to tell you I will never know,but I am a person of my word.. so with that being said I want you to know, that even if we are far apart,your words I read daily and especially recently those words have helped me in my daily life and are in so many ways an insperation in my life!!!
Thanks, Terri for putting Lady Di in there I haven't heard that is so long it was like "WOW".
ReplyDeleteYou did a really amazing thing this "Celebrate The Memory" your Dad was just smiling from ear to ear and I know he said thank-you my precious Termite Love Dad. I don't think there was ever a person that met him that never like him. I spent his birthday looking at pictures well the few that I have of the good times your granduation, Tracy's prom and a family picture with all of us when Ryan was a baby and Tawni was sooo mad but it was a good pic anyway. I see so much of your dad in you, Tracy and Ryan is built just like his Grandpa. I mean he can't deny that and he would probably still be calling him cryin Ryan. Tracy I think we might be able to guess what he might be call calling Logan but I am not going to go there. But I think Logan and Zack would give him a run for his money.He would've enjoyed his grandchildren so much. He is at home with his mother whom he loved and missed so very much becaused he lost her at such a young age and yes his dad and his brother. As your sister Tammy said one moment with him left an everlasting impression in your life. To love him and be loved by him was a priceless gift. I miss him very much also Terri and I pray that we are all united together again. You Were and still are a Blessing to your Dad, Love you very much Mom Nov.17,2010 7:59 PM