Sam Dean was always a man of his word. If he said it, he meant it. He always spoke the truth. Sam Dean was always a planner. He made his wishes known. He said there would be no funeral, for this is not a sad occasion. He always said that he could not complain about his life - he had lived a life full of memories, accomplishments, and joy. He often said that he was more fortunate than most and he was abundantly blessed. He made us promise that we would do a celebration of a life well-lived and well-blessed.
He was also adamant about one more thing. There would be NO preaching. He said he had done enough of that and heard enough of that over his lifetime and he would not be having any preaching while celebrating his life! For those of you who know our Dad well, this comes as no surprise!
So today, we are here to honor his wishes! We will celebrate, maybe through some laughter and maybe through some tears, but the goal of tonight is to honor a great man who has touched the lives of many that will leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.
Our Dad was always more of a teacher than a preacher. We would be here for days if we talked about all the life lessons he has taught us both through his words and through his actions. Anyone who had a brief encounter with my Dad could instantly tell there was something special about him. Something genuine, sincere, and humble. He could be tough as nails, but it always came from his passions and with a compassionate heart. In the ICU, we had several nurses return to his room and cry with us because they had developed such an attachment to him. One nurse came back days later, kissed his head and said, "It has been an honor to take care of you, sir." The doctor who managed his care spent a great deal of time talking to us and eventually asked, "Do you care if I ask what he did for a living?" As we told him about our father, he replied, "I knew that there was something special and unique about him. I could just feel it in his presence." Even during our Dad's last days and last breaths, he still was impacting those around him. He wasn't even able to speak, but they felt it. What an amazing gift he had. He was always so humble, he never realized the significance of his impact or how well he was loved by so many. God gives each of us a gift that we are to use for the glory of Him. There is no doubt that he took this command seriously.
The last week he was home, I, Kelly, had him walk to the mailbox with me. While we were walking, I said, "Don't you hate the times when you are surrounded by sadness and you know there is joy, but you have a hard time finding it?" He stopped, looked at me and said, "This is part of life. There are periods of happiness and periods of pain. There are times where it is appropriate to laugh and times where it is essential to cry. Both are equally important. Don't suppress the pain......bear through it and don't be afraid to feel it, for it is a part of life."
Our father loved hard. Our father always put other's needs before himself. He showed us all the true meaning of being a servant of the Lord. There are such mixed emotions on this night. Our family's heart has never hurt so deeply. But as the wise Sam Dean has taught us, we will all hold tight to each other as family and friends and feel the pain, knowing it is a part of life. We will remind each other to balance the pain with the promise that one of the greatest men we have ever known is in the hands of Jesus and celebrating after hearing the words, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."
Thank you, Dad, for loving hard and teaching us to do the same - even though it sometimes causes pain.
Thank you, Dad, for seeing things in us that we could not see ourselves.
Thank you, Dad, for showing us your wisdom through your actions, not just your words.
Thank you, Dad, for loving so many unconditionally.
Thank you, Dad, for teaching us how to navigate this journey called life that is full of unfair events and free will.
Today, you are pain free, the tremors have disappeared, and your feeding tube has been removed. We envision you embracing your parents Bonnie and James and your siblings Irene, Mildred, and Thelma. We're sure the angels are surrounding you singing hymns of joy welcoming you into your eternal home. Tonight, as we celebrate stories of you, may we find joy as we embrace the pain of human frailty and loss.
God speed, our sweet Daddy. We will carry your spirit and life lessons in our heart forever. Let's let the celebration begin!
This, my dear friend, is beautiful. I did not have the honor of ever meeting your father...after reading your words here....and the past few years...I sure wish that I had been able to. Prayers continue for the peace that surpasses all understanding.
ReplyDelete~Wendy Newton