I have to admit: I did not think my father would make it to his birthday. How did I ever arrive at this thought? Why did I even entertain these thoughts?
One reason is his mental state. When I look back over the past months, I saw a steady decline in his optimism and thinking. Being cooped up in a room with no possibility of exiting leaves one feeling as if in a jail cell.
Another strange reason for my thinking is that I thought that his passing would be like my mother’s. He would get sick and then pass away very close to his birthday.
These are very dark thoughts and I wish I didn’t have them, but they have been there, lurking in my mind.
However, today proves many things. First, those thoughts were wrong! My dad is celebrating another year! He made it to 88! Rejoice! Second, my ways are not God’s ways. Who am I to think that I know when my father is going to pass away? We don’t know! Why did those thoughts even enter my mind?
Even though I cannot be with my father today on his birthday, I CAN celebrate and rest in knowing that God is in control. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Praise be to Him!
Happy bday, Dad!
A Journey Worth Remembering 