This past Tuesday, March 24, my dear sweet father-in-law passed away. He has been fighting cancer this past year. He has been a stalwart, never complaining, except to say he wished food tasted normal again. Paul was able to be there. He spent the last 10 days of his life with him.
It is hard to sum up my "dad" in a short few phrases. My sister-in-law summed him up eloquently during the funeral services. He was a very kind-hearted man. He always was making sure that not only we had what we need but that those who were in need had things that they needed. He loved his family unconditionally. No matter what our faults were, he overlooked them and showered us with love and kindness and plenty of smiles. He would help you out at the drop of hat and not only would he come help you out on whatever project, he would improve it and make it 10 times better. If he was out snow-blowing his driveway he would often times wander over to the neighbors if theirs wasn't done and do it for them. If he was pulling his garbage cans up from the curb and his neighbors' cans were still out by the curb he would bring them up for them as well. He was known to mow neighbors lawns, help them with projects around their houses, sub for people at the temple, and do anything to the point of giving his shirt off his back if they needed it. He loved the gospel. He was dedicated in every calling giving 150%. Whether it was serving on a mission preserving old documents for the church after they were retired(not the most exciting), to serving for 20 years in the bishopric, to nursery leader with mom, dedicated hometeacher to 10 or more families every month(up until he got cancer, I don't think he ever missed a month, seriously)or his last and most favorite, sealer in the temple. Even as a nursery leader, he copied and cut and colored and laminated all sorts of things for those"special souls" in the nursery. He loved them and they loved him. He was faithful, and honest, he wanted the very best for us. He had a wonderful spirit about him. Heavenly Father needed him back home and so it was time for him to leave. We are grateful that he is not suffering anymore and thought it is sad to know that he is not physically here anymore, he will always be in spirit and we look forward to seeing him when our time on earth is complete.
It has strengthened my resolve to examine my life, to make changes, to strive harder and to be more obedient and faithful. It puts in mind of an experience I had as a teenager when participating in a church activity, I fell 1 "blessing" short of obtaining the celestial kingdom. I do not want to risk not making it, to barely scrape by, or set myself on cruise control and blindly miss the right exit. I want to be with my family forever. I know how to do it, I just need to be more faithful and obedient. I don't know when it will be my time, or when it will be Paul's time or my parents, brothers and sisters, or kids but I do know that it is here on earth that we get to prove ourselves and to pass the test placed before us. There are some tests I feel I have passed, and there are tests I know that I have failed miserably and I feel humbled and grateful to be able to experience the Savior's atonement in my life.
My father-in-law was a wonderful example to me and I am grateful to have known him for the time that I did.
