It goes back to Monday, January 24th. I was getting ready to sit on the bench during our senior boys basketball home game when I saw someone waving me across the gym. My wife was at the game and needed me. This is significant because she was supposed to be at work. I followed her outside where she told me news. My dad had been found dead in his home, not an hour earlier. I will never forget that moment. Dad was not sick, to my knowledge. His passing was unexpected. I was in shock.
I had the responsibility to call my brother and my youngest sister. My family packed bags and we left to be with my family in this hour of need. Many tough decisions and meetings were necessary over the next two days. I went into, what someone called "business mode" as we planned Dad's funeral and sorted through family memories. That leads me to the subject of my post today, Dad's funeral message. I had already posted about dad on my Facebook page, as seen here: https://www.facebook.com/timothy.smallwood2/posts/5116605165030007.
I knew that there was more for me to do to honor my dad. He was the one who had prayed that his children would serve God with their life. I asked his pastor to lead the service, read the obituary, and speak at the graveside. However, the message had to come from me. I have always known that I would preach my dad's funeral. I believe that the Lord revealed that to me, knowing how hard it would be. All praise to Him, dad was honored and his life was celebrated. Most of all, King Jesus was glorified. It would have been dad's desire for us to lift up Christ at his home-going celebration. So, I talked about how God had gotten ahold of my dad when he was at his worst. We journeyed through some of dad's favorite Scriptures, remembering the season of life that we all were in when he would quote them. I spoke truthfully with respect about the man who struggled with vices, but always pointed people back to the God that he so wanted to please. Dad was honored, which is my Biblical responsibility, but Christ was exalted. That was the end goal.
I praise my God for counting me worthy to serve dad in this way. I love you, dad and miss you so much already. Heaven is getting sweeter all the time.
I had the responsibility to call my brother and my youngest sister. My family packed bags and we left to be with my family in this hour of need. Many tough decisions and meetings were necessary over the next two days. I went into, what someone called "business mode" as we planned Dad's funeral and sorted through family memories. That leads me to the subject of my post today, Dad's funeral message. I had already posted about dad on my Facebook page, as seen here: https://www.facebook.com/timothy.smallwood2/posts/5116605165030007.
I knew that there was more for me to do to honor my dad. He was the one who had prayed that his children would serve God with their life. I asked his pastor to lead the service, read the obituary, and speak at the graveside. However, the message had to come from me. I have always known that I would preach my dad's funeral. I believe that the Lord revealed that to me, knowing how hard it would be. All praise to Him, dad was honored and his life was celebrated. Most of all, King Jesus was glorified. It would have been dad's desire for us to lift up Christ at his home-going celebration. So, I talked about how God had gotten ahold of my dad when he was at his worst. We journeyed through some of dad's favorite Scriptures, remembering the season of life that we all were in when he would quote them. I spoke truthfully with respect about the man who struggled with vices, but always pointed people back to the God that he so wanted to please. Dad was honored, which is my Biblical responsibility, but Christ was exalted. That was the end goal.
I praise my God for counting me worthy to serve dad in this way. I love you, dad and miss you so much already. Heaven is getting sweeter all the time.