Dear Dad—

Twenty-seven years ago today Mom and I stood at your bedside in the hospital in Pensacola.  We read from the Psalms and Mom said, through her tears, “Joy comes with the morning, Wirth.  Joy comes with the morning!”

I had just had sinus surgery, and Mom asked me how it had gone.  “It went fine,” I said.  “Didn’t stop my snoring, though; poor Frank.”

You squeezed my hand then, appreciating the joke, I think, and commiserating with Frank.  (Mom’s snoring was legendary.)

You were not able to speak or even open your eyes.

But you squeezed my hand and then, moments later, you left.

As quietly as you had lived your life. 

“I’m going to miss you, Dad,” I told you then. 

I still miss you.

I miss your quiet strength, your deep spirituality and ever-growing faith.  “Jesus Christ is more real and wonderful to me today,” you said, at your retirement ceremony, “than he was when I started out as a young pastor.”

You rose early every morning and prayed and meditated, “until I broke through to a sense of God’s presence,” you told me, once.  I do that, now.

Dad, I am very grateful for the way you completely supported me those times I chose a different path.  I’m sure it made people talk when I refused to join the church with the rest of my catechism class, but you were fine with it. Years later, when I left the Methodist church and became a Catholic, I knew I had your complete and total support.

You had a quiet life, but one  full of love and faith.

It was a well-lived life.

Well done, Dad. Well done.

Love, Luann

^“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”  Matt 25:21 KJV