My Father was greatly blessed with a very loving, special, thoughtful and endearing wife, Anne, for 63 years before she passed away in 1998.
Much of his research and development time was spent on games that stunned the imagination, inventing The Whispering Queen and The Phone Book Trick, and I know he found a system written in his own hieroglyphics that can beat the horses. He had some beliefs which he felt strongly about and had more than once readily expressed them. You would be right to say he was - 'set' in his ways.
My Dad was also like a little kid at heart at times (another quality he passed down), and also liked to be sneaky and keep many things hidden to himself. Some called him 'The Old Fox', because he was a guy who really enjoyed fooling and tricking people.
He would argue politics with the best of them, and those who knew him knew he could see what many didn't and he was usually right!
It is with this in mind that I now would like to take this short tribute to my Father and turn it as an invitation to you...
My earthly Father gave me an inheritance on this earth, along with his genes, his flesh and blood and the title deed to all he owned in this life. He gave all that any Father could give - in life, as well as in death - and it's mine as long as it lasts.
And so, for the short time I have remaining on earth I am greatful to him and my Mom, especially for instilling in me some good quality things, and I will always remember them both as being very distinct from each other yet as being very special in their own 'special' way.
God my Father in heaven gave me an inheritance as well, through receiving a new life via a 'spiritual' birth! I speak here of an inheritance that will last forever and will never pass away to all who believe...He gave me His own beloved Son, and in Him and Him alone there is this 'life' we all must have and speak of.
I am speaking here of an inheritance so fabulous, so vast, so astounding, and so totally undeserved that no man alive can ever hope to comprehend the generosity and love that the heavenly Father has for those who love Him by hearing and coming to His Son for life. "He who has the Son has the life!"
It is written: "Unless a man is born again he cannot inherit the kingdom of God!" "Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God!"
It is written: "Whoever believes in him will not perish, but will have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not perish, but will have everlasting life."
(We all must come to believe in Him thus reach out to Him wholeheartedly in order to receive the eternal life He is offering!)
It is written: "For by the grace of God are you saved through faith in Christ; and none of this is of your own making: it is the 'gift' of God: Not of our works, so that no man can boast."
(We all must come to receive His free and unearned gift of salvation!)
Finally:
And you are invited to come and receive the Free Gift of Salvation that He is offering!
He was constantly working with figures on paper, always trying to find a way to beat the odds or build a better mouse trap; sort of like a poor mans inventor, and this quality - call it 'ingenuity' - or just good ol' plain 'common sense', he passed down to me.
He was a man of his convictions who strongly believed in, always talked about and firmly stood for the things 'he' deemed important.
Although at times he expressed his love in funny ways and kept to himself a lot, he was a man of high moral standards, a good provider who loved his wife, children and grandchildren and was very generous to all of us. Thanks Dad.
(We all must become 'spiritually' born again...of above...having God Himself as our 'new' Father, acquiring His life; through faith in Jesus Christ, as He promised!)
"My peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
"Come to me, all you that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
(The peace He gives is that of the giving of Himself, and all who come to God by Him will find eternal rest for their souls!)
Everyone loved my Mother! She was special! Very special! She carried a special charm and friendly personality that so easily endeared her to those who were fortunate enough to come in contact with her. You can have your kings and rulers and nobel winners and anyone you want, but as for me no one could even come close to my mother. She was a wonderful mom and a very fine lady! The very best!
Believe you me, I could write a good sized book about her, and by the time you were
finished reading it, you would have tears in your eyes and would have elevated her to
the highest level of people, good people, the very best who ever lived on earth, and
deservedly so.
Towards the end of her life, in her mid-eighties, joints wracked with arthritis, osteo bending her back bone a little, aches and pains, needing a hearing aid, using a cane to get around, she was still doing for herself, and others, giving, always giving - always giving! (What an example!)
Her body grew old, but her mind remained sharp, rarely complaining about her pain
and suffering, struggling along with her cane and oxygen hookup to do what must be done. Rarely did she have
anything negative to say about anyone.
How so very sad that the stroke ended up leaving you this way, mom, in a coma for two weeks before you died, paralyzing you without any dignity or proper way to say our goodbyes. I know that you were concerned that your hair looked nice, your teeth were in, and that you smelled good...even on your death bed.
"You were the best of them all", as Dad would later say! And on this, if on nothing else ever, we both totally agreed!!!!
We know that death--physical death is not the end. The end is contingent on how we
handled, heard and responded to the Word of Life: Jesus Christ Himself while we are
still alive. Eternal bliss or damnation is based on whether we are found in the end to be
IN Him or not !!
Jesus said, " I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were
dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die."
We cannot but help remember you the way you were when you were alive...the way that I know you would want us all to remember you, as you were. How special: How caring, How concerned for others you always were, even when you weren't feeling good. How quick witted and ready to be funned with you were. How so very beautiful you were on the inside as well as on the outside. What an honor to have you for my mom!!! What an honor!
You were my Mother! Warm, affectionate and always concerned about me. As fine a person that ever lived. You were always full of life, bestowing upon all of us many blessings in just knowing you, in being around you, in talking with you, crying with you, ripping on you, laughing with you, and in your sharing your life with us. Your loss hurts like no other... no other!
We all miss you greatly, Mom !
Your loving son, Biff
She was such a blessing to everyone who knew her, especially my Father,
brother, and I. What a privelage and blessing to have had her for my Mother! Such a
loving Mother that any son would be proud to have! What a very special person, wonderful mom and fine lady she was!
She was always concerned about her appearance
and cleanliness, even when very sick, and she kept a clean house with her knick knacks
spread here and there. She was a fine lady, a very intelligent, funny and sharp minded, easy going person living a simple life!
You didn't want to burden anyone, or let them see you any less than the fine lady we always knew you were anyway, with or without the extras. We understand completely, Mom, and that is how we saw you...and how we'll always see you...as beautiful and loving, kind and generous, sweet and caring.
Dear reader, now that I'm "Old" (69 - this day in 11/14/2007) I look back and I see how FAST time actually flew... "WHOOOOOSH!" My only regret is that I didn't spend more time with my mom and dad. (Perhaps I'm fantacizing a little too much on how that might have made any difference anyway?)
They're both gone now... I miss 'em... and we're next... so don't blink!
"Behold, now is the accepted time; Behold, now is the day of salvation." (2Cor.6:2)
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Hurry my friend... because Death and Tomorrow is just the next heart-beat away!
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." (Matt 7:7-8)
One that Must be replaced by Eternal Life in Christ.
