Challenge and Grace

My father recently passed away. I took this picture from a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan on my way home that day. Over the past week, I have learned a lot more about my father, about what kind of man he really was. Like most of us, he was somebody different to everyone. It sort of depended on how he knew them.  

As I have listened to stories from friends, family, coworkers, etc., one thing that has been consistent is his nature as a person.  There are many words people have used to describe dad; smiling, generous, quiet, outspoken, strength, determination, teacher, coach, handsome,...In general, most people have described him as a man of  character, someone they looked up to and were proud to have known him.  I couldn't agree more. He was the best father a girl could want and was always there for me and my brothers and sister. I could go on and maybe I will talk more about dad from time to time.

For now, the nature of dad that is at work here is his desire to see everyone do their best at whatever they have chosen to do. And once they have given it their all, to let go, and know you have done the best you can and be proud of that.

I chose to create his Memorial Service program on my new desktop publisher. I never thought this is what I would be working on when I purchased my new software a couple months ago. I have a vision of how the program should look. And I am proud of the work I have created so far. It is complete, save for the last page.

I am having a devil of a time trying to figure out the layering components of this software. After having revised that page multiple times, it was time to go to the printers. Time is a factor here. The printer will use what I have created so far, and make the last page work the way I would like.



We little knew that morning

God was going to call your name,

In life we loved you dearly, 

In death we do the same.

It broke our hearts to lose you,

You did not go alone.

For part of us went with you,

The day God called you home.

You left us beautiful memories,

Your love is still our guide,

And though we cannot see you,

You are always by our side.

Our family chain is broken,

And nothing seems the same,

But as God calls us one by one,

The chain will link again.

I want the beach picture, with a small inset of the picture faded, and the final layer is a prayer/poem that was chosen by the family that will be placed inside that faded inset. It should have not been so complicated to figure it out, but for whatever reason, it was. Now it goes to the printer to finalize my vision and I let go of the process. I gave it my best shot and I am proud of the work I have done.

You can bet that I will persevere (and with a smile on my face because dad is watching over me, encouraging me) to learn how the layering aspect of my software works. Someday, that picture and prayer will be framed over my fireplace looking just like I want it to.

Thanks dad, for the encouragement, and the courage to try. You taught us well how to work hard, play hard, live hard, and love hard; and to create a live well lived.