My Dad

My Father is a great man. That isn’t Fathers Day hyperbole. It is the truth. I would not have always said that. There was a time I just didn’t understand him. He was hard driving, hard working and expected that of me. I wasn’t a fan of hard driving or hard work. I thought he was too hard on me as a kid. WOW! I’ll bet I was the first kid who ever thought that. :)

My perspective has changed a great deal through the years. I grew to appreciate his value of hard work. I tried to pass it on to my kids. I even became thankful for his strong discipline in parenting me. So much so, that I practiced a strong disciplinary style when raising my own children. (Not angry child abuse- don’t email me.) I am writing a book with my kids (who are now parents) tentatively titled “We Refuse to Raise a Brat” or “Do the world a favor and …just spank the brat, PLEASE!”. I’m sure Oprah will want to have us on her show to discuss how spanking a kid's hiney might break their little spirit. :)

Anyway, back to my dad. I understand him now. He has mellowed through the years. We have both grown. In many ways I have become like him. I am proud of that. I love him with all my heart! I have moved into a house down the street from him just to be near him.

My dad loves his God, his church flock and his family. He has been a faithful pastor for over 50 years. He is the real deal!

I was so afraid to retire (I prefer that terminology to “couldn’t hack it”) as a pastor because I didn’t want to let him down or embarrass him in any way. How do you tell a guy that has been a pastor for 56 years that the job is too hard for you? That you have officially failed at following in his footsteps and carrying on his legacy? He is a world class pastor! I sucked as a pastor! Don’t take that wrong. I am not beating myself up. I am just a fan of honesty and that’s the truth. I do many things well and I really like the human I am becoming. But, I reached a point where I was a terrible pastor. When I told him I was resigning I was so afraid. He was so kind, gracious and understanding. To my surprise he didn’t give a rip about me being a pastor. He just wanted his son to be ok. I will be forever grateful for those conversations. They poured strength and courage into me.

Watching my Dad love my grandchildren has been one of life’s all time great pleasures. He loves them and they love him. Watching them together is a beautiful thing.

This is an uncomfortable truth. I have been planning my Dad’s (and my mom’s) funeral for the past 10 years. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t intend to use the material for another 20 years or so… but I have a folder of stuff that contains plans for his memorial service… and when he goes home to be with Jesus.. I am gonna make dang sure we honor him well.

There is a song that will be sung at both my parent’s funerals. It was written by Vince Gill and best sung by Michael English. It is a sad and soulful song that is overflowing with joy. It is a song written to a person who has died.

The lyrics to the chorus are “Go rest high on that mountain. For your work on earth is done. Go to heaven a shoutin’. Love for the Father and the Son”.

I love that picture. Go rest high on that mountain.  My dad loves the mountains as much as I do. Your work on earth is… done. How beautiful!!! To live your life in such a way that your death is not a tragedy… simply a completion. Go on to heaven with a big smile, fist pump, and a “done”.

My dad has lived that. He has done his work on earth. DONE! I find that remarkable because I live in a world of started, procrastinated, considering, paused, in progress, workin’ on it, have an idea… but rarely DONE. I hope my father hangs out for another 20 years or so, simply because I love him and want his company. But, he has nothing left to accomplish.

Faithful to God? Done.

Faithful to my mom? Done.

Fantastic father? Done.

Great pastor? Done

Great preacher? Done

Extraordinary grandfather and great-grandfather? Done.

Gave his family freedom to be truly themselves without trying to “live up” to the standard he set? Done.

Gave everyone of his kids a significantly better start at life than what he had? Done

Dependable, steady? Done.

Generous, kind? Done

Full of grace, forgiving, accepting and loving to imperfect and broken people? Done.

Dang! My parents are a very hard act to follow! But the most beautiful thing about them is they don’t expect me to do so. They just want me to love Jesus and be my quirky, imperfect, very flawed self.

When my parents go home to be with Jesus I will do everything in my power to have Michael English himself sing that song at their funeral. I will be blogging asking for donations to pay whatever it takes to get The Man to come and sing that song for the 2 people it best describes.

I love my father! I love him more than those words can describe. He is my hero and my friend. One of these days, when my dad goes home to see his Father, he will hear Him say “done” … no... he will hear Him say “Well done. Very well done”.
 

BONUS
Click below and turn up the volume to hear Michael English sing "Go Rest High on that Mountain". Or, better yet, go to iTunes and buy his "Gospel" CD. Then email him and tell him I told you to buy it so he will owe me a favor some day. :)

Click Here to listen to - Go Rest High On That Mountain

Comments

[Janie]

WOW. I am speechless. A rarity for me and a HUGE compliment to you:)

[Gene]

Jess,

I love that dude, too. He was my pastor when I was four years old. I used to go home every Sunday after church, set up my sister's dolls, and preach his sermon to them. Everyone of them accepted Christ...or they were beheaded. Maybe both. I wasn't completely sanctified at four.

He is a man. A good man. A real man. A friend to my family. Tell him I said hi.

[Joy]

Wow! I wish I had written that! But, I can second the motion - They are truly awesome parents - to all six kids - who have given them 14 grankids, 31 great-grandkids, and 2 great-great-grandkids. The most amazing truth is that they love the youngest (2 months old), with just as much care and compassion, as they love the oldest (nearly 62). Their well has never run dry - that's something like a MIRACLE, isn't it?

[Curtis]

Jess,

You have expressed your Dad's life very well. Both of your parents have a special place in my heart. I make a point of getting back to Twin Oaks on the special occasions to see them. I love them both very much. I to hope that they will be around another 20 years.

[Donna Aldridge]

Jess, Your parents are wonderful loving people who loved me unconditionally as a young child in their church. I was saved under your dad's preaching. I believe I married the man I did because of these simple words your dad always said..."Never date anyone you wouldn't marry". You dad preached that you should date and marry someone that was saved who would serve God with you. I held on to that and waited for God to send me that person and he did 27 years ago. Please give your parents my love.

[Durstin Wilson]

Yes Jess, your father is a hero in a very real sense. I am sure there are a number of things he might choose to do differently, but as far as a model for steady, faithful, driven... and as a Godly Man (not a perfect one, only one of those) his example is one I admire.

Be blessed Cousin... you are in my prayers.

DW

[Jessie Simon]

Thanks Durstin! Please keep me in your prayers.