“For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Corinthians 5:1).
Dad’s earthly house has been exchanged for a heavenly one, the mud mansion I pictured replaced by a sparkling home eternal in Heaven. While I am sad, I also rejoice that he’s won the race, and I do not want my dad back here.
Not long ago, I prayed for Dad to live. You may wonder at me, but I was not ready for him to die. God giving me the picture of Dad’s house of clay helped me to let go.
I’ve been doing plenty of letting go lately. I thought Laurence could not possibly have a second eye surgery, but he did. (Because of this he will not be at Dad’s funeral. We’ve accepted this. A month ago we spent quality time with my parents in Kansas.) I thought that no way could we leave Cape Cod last week after only one night there, but we did. Yesterday afternoon, I sat here in LGA, Delta terminal, expecting to fly to Kansas. But instead, after a pilot shared with me about his father dying earlier this year, I went home and ate Shanghai soup dumplings with Laurence. This morning, I am back at the airport to fly to Kansas. (Pray that it will happen.)
In all of the above scenarios, my ways were not God’s. His ways are both higher and better than mine. I can trust Him completely.
My dad is free of this house of clay. He is safe in the arms of Jesus. I also rest in the arms of Jesus, knowing He has a beautiful place prepared for me. And for you. God bless you.
Berniece
P.s. The West African Uber driver shared with me this morning that if we are humble, we won’t have anxiety.
An Ordinary Life 
God be with you as you plan the funeral, and see your Dad laid to rest..
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only one life he has spent his wisely and victoriously. Ebenezary.
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Fading away like the stars of the morning,
Losing their light in the glorious sun—
Thus would we pass from the earth and its toiling,
Only remembered by what we have done.
Refrain
Only remembered, only remembered,
Only remembered by what we have done;
Thus would we pass from the earth and its toiling,
Only remembered by what we have done.
Shall we be missed though by others succeeded,
Reaping the fields we in springtime have sown?
No, for the sowers may pass from their labors,
Only remembered by what they have done.
Refrain
Only the truth that in life we have spoken,
Only the seed that on earth we have sown;
These shall pass onward when we are forgotten,
Fruits of the harvest and what we have done.
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We will miss your dad!
Your PS is thought provoking. I believe it’s true!
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🙏 I love the P.S.!
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God bless you and your family with comfort. May you find joy in all the good memories!
Thinking of you with Love, Tim and Anne
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Dear Berniece,
I hadn’t heard that your dad went Home. My thoughts and prayers will be with you and your family, and with Laurence. I didn’t know your dad very well, but I sang with your mom at Tuesday morning singing at the Manor, and enjoyed getting to know her. And your brother worked for my first husband, Jerry and I when we farmed soybeans at WestPoint, MS.
I’ll be thinking about you.
Love,
Starla
P.S. Thanks for adding what the Uber driver said. I’m sitting on the porch and heard sirens screaming along 56 Hwy. My grandson from Mtn Grove, MO left our house headed for a Saturday night supper at Inman. He was late. He was in a hurry. Immediate anxiety when I heard the sirens- never mind that he left quite some time ahead of that noise.
I will write that in my journal and keep it in my heart. I’m an anxious person.
Sent from my iPhone
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