Celebrate The Memory

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