I first met Will about 2 years ago when he first came to our church. Then his wife a few months later. I warmed to Will right off. He reminded me of my Uncle Jeff so I said howdy and we chatted many times over the months to follow.
I last saw him in the carpark at the local shopping centre a few weeks ago. Miss 12 was grumpy that I stopped to say hello to the 50 millionth person for the day (about the 4th) but He’d been ill and not at church so I really wanted to speak to them. We chatted at the window of their car for about 10 minutes with Miss 12 tapping internally off to the side.
I patted him on the cheek as I said goodbye, promising to call in soon (kinda smacking him on the shoulder when my hand got stuck on the seatbelt – not so tender after all :-/ ) and being told so warmly that I’d be welcome.
Funerals always give you pause don’t they.
I went to his this morning.
Almost every time I spoke to him, his regret for his children was palpable. Having grown up in a Christian home in the 40’s, he’d gone his own way through most of his life until the last few years when he started the journey of reconnecting to faith of his childhood. This was when he connected with the Pastor of our church (a relative) at a family funeral, and then came along.
He was so proud of his children. Grown, professional, accomplished adults. But he sorrowed that he’d never taught his children the things of God. He sorrowed that his children didn’t meet the Saviour via him. He sorrowed that it had taken him so long. One time in conversation we talked about repentance, knowing forgiveness, and then separating between guilt and grief. Guilt can be washed and forgiven, though grief may stay awhile. This did seem to help.
Today I wanted so to try and impress on these people I’d never met how their father loved them and longed for them to know God. I wanted to say that while I didn’t know much of their story, and nothing of their life’s hurts, that some people, and some generations were not so easy with this idea of saying “I love you” but that the evidence is there. That unspoken love is usually not unspoken at all and has provided the bedrock from which lives flourished. I wanted to say, LISTEN to your Dad now! See the Saviour in him now! These are not just pious words of empty comfort… they are words of Life! Words of Love! Words of Eternity.
I wanted to say – seek Him! Run after Him! Give it all your energy, make it your mission in life! Look for Him and He will be found by you because He’s a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
But I didn’t.
But I thought a lot about our own kids and the time we have left with them.Oh Will. I’ll pray for your children.
Oh Will. I’m so glad to have seen the threads of your life being brought back together. To have seen how the Lord drew you back to His own heart because He already knew ALL the days ordained for you.
He called you, He called you home, and then He took you home.
See you soon Will.