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| Saying Goodbye |
That was May 4, 2016; years ago. But it has gone so fast. It feels like it was yesterday that Joycie’s phone call came saying, “You’d better come. Jannie’s plane will be coming around to Tokyo; you get on it and come together to Oki.” Since I was already packed for another church retreat and had withdrawn cash for the getaway, I was ready to go. Jannie had also procured her passport and visa ahead of time, and we’d checked transportation schedules ahead of time, so everything went smoothly, and we got to talk with Daddy before he went—it seemed, peacefully--Home.
But I want to record something I didn’t realize until about 5 years later. I remember when we were with Daddy, I wanted to express a daughter’s love with my eyes and asked God to convey it, let him understand it. I so wanted him to die happy.
It occurred to me now the best thing for Daddy’s to see would’ve been, not a daughter’s love for himself, but a daughter’s undying love for his God.
This must be what Elisha realized as he saw Elijah ushered away into eternity. He wouldn’t have his elderly friend die without seeing his timid disciple Elisha was sufficiently emboldened to serve in his stead. “Father, Father, the chariot of Israel, and the footmen thereof”—most people do not understand, I think, what lay behind that cry, and what might have come into Elijah’s ears by Elisha’s utterance of those words. “I haven’t cringed in fear of the flames but am seeing your God!” he may’ve wanted to assure him; “Go in peace! He will lead me all my life!”
And I pray too that my eyes might’ve conveyed to Daddy that the Love that held him captive all his life would rule mine too. Maybe that’s why he could slip out so peacefully.
