A Tribute
My father-in-law passed away recently. As he took deep and sleep-filled breaths he went peacefully on. His boy-like enthusiasm, his quick wit, his sparkling blue eyes, and his infectious laugh will be missed by all who knew him.
I remember after our first dinner together he introduced me to his love of Boy Scouts. This came in the form of a homemade oven. He made these ovens out of cardboard, a bit of aluminum foil (ok a lot of it) and a couple of pieces of charcoal. Each oven was a work of art. They were sturdy enough for a weekend Boy Scout campout. And if you treated them just right they would last for several weekends after that. They were absolutely ingenious and I just beamed at him with pride over his invention. That seemed to seal the deal between us.
Over the 10 plus years we had together there were family meals where the latest joke was shared, a Christmas where he bought me kitty cat hand towels which still make me smile, and outings to various parks in the area to soak in the sun or take a quick trip out on the sailboat. The other place we used to go as a family was the Faculty Club. During our last dinner there was a little boy at the next table who seemingly laughed at everything. This absolutely tickled my father-in-law to the point that he was laughing with tears dropping down his cheeks. I was sitting across from him. Just watching him giggle had me in stitches. I will forever remember his face and his laugh that day as the joy was from the deepest part of him.
Another memory that I hold dear is when he and my mother-in-law came to pick us up at the airport after being gone for a week in Hawaii. He was so excited to see me that he literally picked me off the ground as he gave me a big bear hug. My father-in-law was a very strong man and so I thought he might have cracked a couple of my ribs, but I didn't care. His outpouring of love that day let me know I was missed and that he was glad to have me back.
I think one of the things he enjoyed the most though towards the end of his life were his almost nightly walks with our Saint Bernard, BB. He would get such joy out of walking with BB and seeing others reactions to such a big dog. BB has the ability to make everyone feel good when he is around. BB just wants to love on everyone he is with. BB used to get excited when he would see my husband take out the leash and say they were heading to see grandpa. He knew great scratches were awaiting him at the next house.
But I know the one picture that will forever be in my mind no matter how old or senile I get, will be seeing my husband, Roger, with his dad during those final months. Roger has always been a man of incredible calm, focus, and compassion. But seeing him with his father, attending to his every need, ensuring that his father was as comfortable as possible, and adding in a wheelchair ride outside just made me love my husband more. Roger didn't just try to let his father know that he was greatly loved right up until the end, he succeeded at it. In fact, Roger knew in his heart that his father would die the night that he did, so he stayed in the room with him. I know that must have added immeasurable peace to his father as he passed away.
There are always many tears that get shed as I move someone on my prayer list from prayers for healing to prayers of comfort for the family. In this case it is my own family I will be praying prayers of comfort for. I am grateful to the Lord that my father-in-law breathed such peaceful and sleep-inducing breaths as some of his last. And I am grateful for having been blessed by a man with a great zest for life for over 10 years. I love you Daddy D.
My father-in-law passed away recently. As he took deep and sleep-filled breaths he went peacefully on. His boy-like enthusiasm, his quick wit, his sparkling blue eyes, and his infectious laugh will be missed by all who knew him.
I remember after our first dinner together he introduced me to his love of Boy Scouts. This came in the form of a homemade oven. He made these ovens out of cardboard, a bit of aluminum foil (ok a lot of it) and a couple of pieces of charcoal. Each oven was a work of art. They were sturdy enough for a weekend Boy Scout campout. And if you treated them just right they would last for several weekends after that. They were absolutely ingenious and I just beamed at him with pride over his invention. That seemed to seal the deal between us.
Over the 10 plus years we had together there were family meals where the latest joke was shared, a Christmas where he bought me kitty cat hand towels which still make me smile, and outings to various parks in the area to soak in the sun or take a quick trip out on the sailboat. The other place we used to go as a family was the Faculty Club. During our last dinner there was a little boy at the next table who seemingly laughed at everything. This absolutely tickled my father-in-law to the point that he was laughing with tears dropping down his cheeks. I was sitting across from him. Just watching him giggle had me in stitches. I will forever remember his face and his laugh that day as the joy was from the deepest part of him.
Another memory that I hold dear is when he and my mother-in-law came to pick us up at the airport after being gone for a week in Hawaii. He was so excited to see me that he literally picked me off the ground as he gave me a big bear hug. My father-in-law was a very strong man and so I thought he might have cracked a couple of my ribs, but I didn't care. His outpouring of love that day let me know I was missed and that he was glad to have me back.
I think one of the things he enjoyed the most though towards the end of his life were his almost nightly walks with our Saint Bernard, BB. He would get such joy out of walking with BB and seeing others reactions to such a big dog. BB has the ability to make everyone feel good when he is around. BB just wants to love on everyone he is with. BB used to get excited when he would see my husband take out the leash and say they were heading to see grandpa. He knew great scratches were awaiting him at the next house.
But I know the one picture that will forever be in my mind no matter how old or senile I get, will be seeing my husband, Roger, with his dad during those final months. Roger has always been a man of incredible calm, focus, and compassion. But seeing him with his father, attending to his every need, ensuring that his father was as comfortable as possible, and adding in a wheelchair ride outside just made me love my husband more. Roger didn't just try to let his father know that he was greatly loved right up until the end, he succeeded at it. In fact, Roger knew in his heart that his father would die the night that he did, so he stayed in the room with him. I know that must have added immeasurable peace to his father as he passed away.
There are always many tears that get shed as I move someone on my prayer list from prayers for healing to prayers of comfort for the family. In this case it is my own family I will be praying prayers of comfort for. I am grateful to the Lord that my father-in-law breathed such peaceful and sleep-inducing breaths as some of his last. And I am grateful for having been blessed by a man with a great zest for life for over 10 years. I love you Daddy D.
posted by williscj | 8:43 PM
2 Comments:
I am blessed by the blessing you have received. Judging by your description, he would have been a blessing for anybody to know.
Thanks my friend!! YOU are a blessing to know!
Cari
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