A Beautiful Saturday

We are ending day two of our Illinois journey.

We began the day at church with my Dad. First Baptist in Mattoon is a church that I was a part of as a kid and it was really nice to back here and to see some old familiar faces. The Pastor and thirteen other people had just gotten back from the mission field in the Dominican Republic and it was touching to hear their stories and view the pictures of the work they had done there.

After church we gathered in a pavilion at Lytle Park (near the giant swimming pool that we use to spend our summers in) for a gathering of friends and family. The weather looked a little suspect at times, but it wound up being a fine afternoon with good conversation and lots of laughter.

Later this afternoon I took my Father out to the edge of town to the cemetery where my Mother is buried. She passed away in 2001 and I miss her very much. As we stood under the shade tree where she is buried, Dad began to talk about how he first met my Mom and how her faith was always strong. He came to know the Lord after meeting her in college. Dad was required to go to church with her before he could ask her out on their first date. He talked about getting to see her again someday and how much he missed her voice and smile and laughter. Somehow our conversation turned to his name written on the stone and how the second date is still a mystery. He said that he was ready to go when it was his time and even though he will be 80 soon, he feels good and is in good health. We ended the visit there with a father-son hug and a few tears. Dad told me he missed me and was very proud of how my life had turned out.

I love my Dad. He's not perfect and he would be the first to admit it. He told me he prays for each of his six children by name each and everyday.

Today and that moment was worth the whole trip to me.