I miss my dad.
Twenty-seven years ago, we bade him goodbye as he took flight on angel wings. It was a strange moment for our family. Once Dad was gone, we just stood there quietly.
“What do we do now?” I whispered to my niece, an RN.
“Call the nurse’s desk. They’ll know what to do.”
We didn’t call. Instead, my niece took my hand, and together we walked down the long hospital corridor to the nurse’s desk.
“He’s gone.” My voice quivered. The nurse on duty walked around the desk and hugged me.
“I know. I saw his stats on my desk. You and your family take the time you need to say goodbye, and when you’re ready, you can leave. I’ve already called the doctor to come and make the declaration.”
Dad’s cancer road was short, and we are fortunate that God saw fit to take him before he began to suffer. His compassion for Dad and us was immeasurable when we think about what could have been.
The psalmist grasped the great compassion of our Father in heaven. He reminded us God’s mercy is available to us in so many ways—even though sometimes we don’t recognize it immediately. God’s passion is girded in His compassion, and He longs to share that with His children.
Dad knew the Lord intimately, but not until his elder years. He was baptized as a young man but chose to walk away from God’s love and compassion during his mid-life years. But one day, God moved in Dad’s heart. We still don’t know how or why, except that from that day forward, Dad walked hand in hand with the Master. He learned of the mighty compassion of the Lord for those who fear Him, and when his time came to take flight, Dad took hold of God’s hand and was gracefully lifted into His arms.
Some feel they never had a father, and others, like me, only knew immense love from their dad. Still, we all have a Father who longs for a relationship with us and whose compassion will carry us through every joy and hardship.
Reach up. Take hold of the Master’s hand. He is your one true Father.
(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)
(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)
Cindy K. Sproles is a best-selling, award-winning author. She is a speaker and a conference teacher who teaches nationwide. Cindy is the cofounder of Christian Devotions Ministries, www.christiandevotions.us, and www.inspireafire.com. She serves as a writing mentor with WRAMS (Writing Write Author Mentoring Service) and is the director of the Asheville Christian Writers Conference. Visit Cindy at www.cindysproles.com.