Personal observations on Michelangelo, da Vinci, Flowers & Chanel

Pictures paint a  1000 words + a few more from me :

Dad's coffin that he personally chose: Decorated with Michelangelo's Pieta on the corners; sides decorated with panels of the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci. Great choice, IMO.  My poor Mom on a wheelchair, transported by an ambulance crew plus a CNA & a Caregiver (4 adult people in total), for a private opportunity to say goodbye to Dad at the church.  Thank God for those who coordinated this not-as-easy-as-it-looks event.  My last glimpse of the coffin at the cemetery, its top covered with flowers placed by family and friends plus the white gloves of the pallbearers. Why do I feel sorry for the flowers?! The weather was cold with snow flurries.  The 12 "FREE" folding chairs that no one sat on except for my Chanel bag.  Each of the front row chairs had a bottle of drinking water, a rose, and a pack of tissue.  So grateful to my friend in the purple coat who hooked her arm with mine. My DH had his arm around my waist. I think of it as God's love and support on either side of me.

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He is not dead

I cannot say, and I will not say

That he is dead.  He is just away.

With a cheery smile, and a wave of the hand,

He has wandered into an unknown land

And left us dreaming how very fair

It needs must be, since he lingers there.

And you --- oh, you, who the wildest yearn

For an old time step, and the glad return,

Think of him faring on, as dear

In the love of There as the love of Here.

Think of him still as the same.  I say,

He is not dead --- he is just away.

 by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY

O death, where is they sting?

O grave, where is thy victory?

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through

our Lord Jesus Christ

~ 1 Corinthians 15: 55-57

My Dad

My beloved ♥ Dad ♥ passed away in the very early morning hours of November 26, 2009.

It was Thanksgiving Day, AND my wedding anniversary, but I choose to remember that day as a day to give thanks for the many blessings bestowed upon me by the Lord.  I loved my Dad, and he loved me; and I am grateful to God for the privilege of being his daughter.

I am grateful for the memories: the most recent being the genuine look of joy, happiness, and relief he expressed as he greeted me when I walked into their home through their kitchen door a few days ago. Of course, I got there by driving his beloved Lexus RX 300 that he so generously lent to me.  That same night, he beckoned me over to his room after an awkward time with Mom, to tell me with all the sincerity he could muster -- "Don't worry about it..don't feel bad."  And, he was  grateful when I said a prayer to God above for him and Mom just before I left the next morning. 

My Dad had his faults (just as the rest of us), but I claim the forgiveness that's available throught the Lord Jesus shown in the Word of God: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowsip one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin (1 John 1:7)

My Dad heard the Good New, the Gospel of Jesus Christ which reconciles us to God through the shedding of His blood on calvary's cross --- a FREE gift to anyone who wants it.  Therefore, God's Word - So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10: 17),  brings me hope and comfort during this very difficult time. 

For by grace are you saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2: 8,9

Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect?  It is God that justifieth. Romans 8:33

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.  2 Corinthians 12:9