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Memories of my father envelop me like a warm blanket on this day, marking twenty-three years since his sudden departure from our world. It was a day that forever altered the course of our family’s life, compelling me to convey heartbreaking news to my mother and brother, who were miles away from home.
Indeed, God works in His ways. It took me hours to reach my mother, and although this created great angst, it gave me time to contact my brother’s pastor in California, and that kind priest helped me plan and coordinate the delivery of the news. He arrived at my brother’s house within 20 minutes of my phone call to console them. No doubt, Mother and Brother opened their door to the consoling face of Jesus that night.
The Enduring Song of Memories of Father
Among Judy Collins’ melodies, “My Father” holds a special place in my heart. As a college student in Austin, the first strains of this tune brought an overwhelming sense of longing for my dad, and tears were my silent companions as I yearned for his comforting presence.
I immediately ran to the phone and called Daddy. I can still hear his usual greeting, “Hi, Baby. How are you?” He listened through my sobs as I told him that a song made me sad because I missed him. He reassured me that all was well and that he would always love me and be here for me.
While Daddy is no longer in this world, I know that he is praying for me and that his love and care transcends time and physical space. And, although I don’t live in Paris, I do:
Sail my memories of home
Like boats across the Seine
And watch the Paris sun
Set in my father’s eyes again.
In the quiet moments, it’s the memories of my father that bring both tears and smiles. Love remains, bridging the gap between past and present. Miss you always, Pops.
Editorial Update: We strive to keep our content accurate and up-to-date. As part of our ongoing efforts, this article has been moved from Personal Musings to LIFESTYLE & MUSINGS on 09/14/23.
This article was first published on February 19, 2015, and updated on November 2, 2023. We’ve fixed a broken link and enriched the content to improve your reading.
