On Wednesday 25th September 2013 at 10:40 my darling father went to be with his Lord. I had the most precious time with him just minutes before, reading Isaiah 35v 10, 11: “Therefore the redeemed… of the Lord will return and come with singing unto Zion; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.” Hallelujah! There was such joy in his room. I told him, “Dad, God is crowning you with everlasting joy! Gladness and joy are pursuing you and about to overtake you!” Last night, Mum was wheeled down to his room to say goodnight to him. She held his hand and sang him a song in a high, wavery, clear voice – the doxology from Jude v 24. “Now unto Him who is able to keep, able to keep you from falling, and present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy; to the only wise God, our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power both now and forever. Amen.” It was exquisitely beautiful. Such a precious, tender time. Exceeding joy! That is what Dad is experiencing right now.
When I knew he was about to die I called Penny and my brothers, Peter and John, and we held his hands and loved him. He died so very peacefully, we hardly knew he’d gone. When Mum came in, her face was filled with joy, and such peace. She had said to us yesterday, “It’s hard to let go someone you’ve loved for seventy years.” But this morning all she felt was exceeding joy. She held his hand and said, “We send you off with our love, and we know we’ll see you again soon.” And so ends a wonderful life here on earth. He was the best father any girl could have. A faithful man; constant in his love to his family and his God. And so begins an eternity of rejoicing and everlasting joy. Thank you again for your prayers and all your messages of love. These past five days have been some of the most precious I have ever lived through.
The funeral service is at 1.30 pm Sunday 29 September 2013 at Crossroads Community Church, 10 Mill Rd, Whangarei.
“How blessed is the man who fears the Lord and greatly delights in His commandments.” Psalm 112
