Have you ever felt like you just needed a huge hug? I have that feeling right now as I write this! Two arms wrapped around me holding me tight would feel pretty good right now! 🙂 I opened an email just a minute ago that Tina had sent me on Monday, and I couldn’t believe the picture that was in the email! I felt like the girl in the picture below…Jesus’ arms wrapped around me holding me. I needed that today!
I don’t want to rain on anyone’s parade tonight, but I’d like to share what’s on my heart. Ten years ago tomorrow my life changed forever. The man that I knew as my hero, the man that held me when I needed a hug, the man that made me feel secure…my Daddy…died ten years ago tomorrow.
He was very sick most of that summer struggling with his emphysema. I would spend hours and days sitting by his bedside in the hospital keeping him company. I prayed God would heal him, but I knew it would take a miracle. God did eventually heal him, but not in the way I wanted him to be healed. Dad was healed completely and perfectly in heaven that day.
I will never forget August 7 of 1999. Mom, Ali, Zach and I went down to the hospital to visit Dad in the morning. After getting home, we got a call from University Hospitals that we better come back down to the hospital because Dad was failing. He was unconscious already. I remember crying all the way to the hospital. I remember how thankful I was that we made the trip down earlier in the day to spend time with him while he was awake and alert.
After our entire family arrived, I can remember all of us being in his room, recalling memories that we had as a family and memories we had with Dad. I remember Tina even came down. It was her dad’s birthday and she left his birthday party that she and Mike were hosting to come down to be with me and our family. Nothing could have touched me more that day.
We each were able to have some time alone with him that evening, to tell him exactly what we wanted to tell him. It was a precious few moments I spent with my dad alone. I will cherish that conversation I had with him forever.
I wasn’t prepared for his death. I wasn’t prepared to watch my dad die, but in a matter of hours he took his last breath, and went home to be with Jesus. It was the hardest thing for me to ever take in, yet I felt blessed that I was there to say goodbye to him. We all were gathered around his bed, hugging and sobbing. I remember looking over to my mom and seeing such an empty look on her face. It brings tears to my eyes even now thinking about it. She had just lost her mate of 47 years.
Yes, time has softened the hurt and the loss, but the emptiness is still there today. I miss Dad very much! I look forward to the day I get to see him again. I can only imagine the hug he received from Jesus when he was greeted by Him in heaven. 🙂
Allow my words to motivate you to call your parents if they are still on this earth, or get in touch with them somehow today or tomorrow to tell them how much you love them. If you have lost one or both of your parents, my heart goes out to you…I know what you are feeling! I will be lifting you in prayer tonight and tomorrow. I will be praying for peace and strength for all of us!
So, do YOU need a hug? Let the above picture touch your heart! God bless you!
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