During the last two weeks, I have been blessed and distracted with my two wonderful daughters (a newborn and an almost 2 year old), but I often remember that one year ago, my life changed forever. I received the most difficult phone call I have ever received, and February 6 will no longer be a normal day on my calendar.
I first received a text from my mom that my dad had returned from his typical lunchtime bicycle ride and didn’t feel well. They were taking him to the hospital just to see what was going on. I say his typical lunchtime ride because my dad rode his bicycle often and was very active. He was healthy, arguably healthier than myself. But this day was different. I started to wonder if that was the last thing I would ever hear about my dad. I wondered if I would ever get to hear his voice again. But God gave me a peace about the situation. I knew that my dad trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation, so if I never got to talk to him again on this earth, I would see him again in eternity. I began to pray that either God would heal my dad or that my dad would not be in pain and would at least know he was not alone.
While I was praying, my phone rang but I didn’t hear it until the last ring. I looked and saw a missed call from my dad’s cell phone. Immediately, I got a second call from my dad’s phone. I hoped it was him calling to say he was okay and just wanted to let me know. I answered, but a woman’s voice was on the other end. She asked to confirm with whom she was speaking and then asked if I was Steve’s son. She went on to ask more questions about if I was in Auburn or if any other family was in Auburn. I told her my brother was in Birmingham but no one was closer than that.
I was getting nervous and I stopped at the next words she said. She said she was sorry but that my dad had passed. I had no idea what to say. She continued to explain some of what had happened, and then we got off the phone. Next I had to call my mom and let her know. I didn’t even know how to tell her other than getting straight to what they told me.
After talking to my mom and then my boss, I drove home and called my wife. We prayed more and when I got home, we hugged for a long time. Then God gave me a peace again. My dad was in Heaven. How could I possibly be upset?
When two of our church’s pastors came over a couple hours later, we were able to pray and grieve. But we also enjoyed talking about my dad and telling stories about him.
A few weeks later, I even found out that God answered yes to my original prayer from February 6. My mom was able to talk to the fire chief at the City of Auburn, and he said my dad had talked to him before going to the hospital. The fire chief also said that a medic from the fire department rode in the ambulance with my dad, and he told us that my dad was acting like his usual self on the ride. He was smiling and making jokes.
Over the following weeks and months, we received so much love from family and friends. We have been grateful for all the people God had placed in our lives. We also found out that we were having our second baby daughter, but we had the realization that she would never know who my dad was other than through pictures and stories. When she was born just under two weeks ago, I was overcome with emotion, not just because we had another baby, but because I missed my dad with a passion. But I still have peace because I know that one day I will see him again in Heaven with Jesus Christ. I hope that others can experience this peace that I have had. It doesn’t make it easy when a family member dies, but we still have an assurance that this isn’t the end.
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior but you want to, please, please, please, reach out to me. I don’t want you to lose someone or someone to lose you without having the hope, joy, and peace that I have.
