The Last Father's Day

In the year 1999, news reports all across the globe began buzzing about the Y2K bug. Computer problems, including total program crashes, were anticipated. Many programs represented four-digit years with only the final two digits — making the year 2000 indistinguishable from 1900.

Fear began to spread like wildfire. Many preachers advised their congregations to stock up on canned goods and water. Chaos and hysteria grew as December 31st approached.

I remember exactly where I was at midnight, December 31st, 1999.

I was in the ER at the hospital in my home town in Iowa. We were home for the Christmas holiday. My husband and I had just gone to bed in my old room at my parents' farm.

The door to the stairwell squeaked open, and I heard my Dad call my name.

For a brief moment, my mind went blank as my Dad said, "Honey, I need you to drive me to the hospital, I'm coughing up blood...

The prognosis was not good. My Dad had lung cancer. To make it worse, he was told no treatment could be recommended because of his weak heart. Six months to live was the doctor's best guess.

My Daddy, the One who I believed could do or fix anything. The One who knew everyone in town, and never met a stranger. So strong, so loving, so smart, so respected....and I was losing him. It was incomprehensible.

January 1st, 2000, came. There were no major computer issues, and the world carried on business as usual. That wasn't the case for our family.

My Dad's birthday is on June 22nd. Because it usually fell one week after Father's Day, we often celebrated it early. But, June of 2000 was different.

My Dad had a sister that was ten years his junior. She wanted to give my Dad a surprise birthday party and invite all his close friends and family members...We all knew it would be his last.

As if there wasn't enough heaviness in the air, the enemy hit us with another heavy blow. At the age of 52, my brother-in-law died suddenly and unexpectedly just a few days before my Dad's party.

We determined to have Dad's party. The glimpse of joy in my Dad's eyes as a continual stream of guests came brought us all a reprieve for a few hours.

The following day we celebrated Father's Day.

I remember sitting beside my Dad on a wooden park bench in the front yard of the farm. A warm, humid breeze smelled sweet as it blew across the alfalfa fields. We didn't say much. I just wanted to sit there beside my Dad.

I thought about all the times that I looked across the flat, countryside. Too many times, I had been in a hurry to be somewhere else. Looking back today, I would give anything for one more quiet moment sitting beside the man that was larger than life to me.

My Dad's legacy was taught by example more than words. He loved and cherished my mother as if she was a beautiful jewel. "Family first" was his number one rule.

Dad instilled in me what it meant to be a real man and what to look for in a husband. Thankfully, I found a man like that to be my husband and father to my children.

My Dad passed away in March 2001. He beat the odds. Instead of living merely six months, he made it fourteen.

"A good man leaves an inheritance [of moral stability and goodness] to his children's children..." Proverbs 13:22

How are you spending this Father's Day, my friends?

Are you privileged to still have your Dad with you? Then, I implore you to push pause and soak up every moment with him. Trust me, nothing else really matters.

If you are like me and your Dad is gone. Take a moment to praise God for the man who helped shape who you are. Remember how he lived and loved.

Live your life in such a way that he would be proud of you.

More importantly, be thankful that we have a flawless, all-knowing, all-powerful, Heavenly Father. He is the One who knew you before the universe was formed. (Psalm 139).

He loves you more than any earthly father ever could. He is the One who has given you gifts, talents, and abilities. He has given you everything you need to succeed in this life. All we have to do is spend time with Him.

Sit in a quiet place with Him, and in His Word every day. He is the Daddy that will never leave. And at the end of our time on this planet, He is the One who will bring us to a joyful reunion.

"He will wipe all tears from their eyes, and there will be no more death, suffering, crying, or pain. These things of the past are gone forever."

Revelation 21:4