Life on The Ranch
A Tribute to my Dad
June 16, 2020
My dad, Mickey went to be with the Lord on January 20th of this year. He celebrated his heavenly homecoming the same day his oldest granddaughter Christene, celebrated her 25th birthday. Being present when he took his first breath in Heaven, I am thankful that he left my brothers and I a legacy of love.
I am traveling to Montana this week to lay to rest the man who taught me so much throughout my lifetime. Please pray for our family and friends who are traveling, and strength for my family during this difficult time and for me as I deliver a message of hope to all who attend.
This week’s devotion is a copulation of writings and thoughts on the man I called Dad.
Happy 1st Father’s Day in Heaven!
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Father’s Day 2005
I recently ran across a coffee mug that read “Someone stop me before I volunteer again!” I chuckled to myself. I can’t seem to say “no” when something needs to be done and most often than not, requires long hours and no pay. I then realized I should change it to read “Someone stop me before I volunteer my DAD again!”
I recall several times volunteering my dad when I was little because, like most kids, I knew he could do anything! When, at the Father-Daughter Banquet for our Brownie troop rolled around and my friend Christy’s dad couldn’t be there, I told her not to worry because my dad would be her dad too for the night. I can still picture him with two “daughters”, dressed in our little uniforms, sitting on either side of him eating baked potatoes, pot roast and chocolate cake for dessert. At our school’s 1982 prom once again, he came to my rescue after I proudly announced that my dad could make all the props for “The Best of Times” theme. He was the best artist I knew, and no one could have done it any better!
Several years after my mom died, he moved to South Dakota to live with my family. Although I was older then and certainly knew better, but knowing how great he was with kids, I volunteered him to teach preschool with me. His artistic ability naturally lent itself to create the arts and crafts projects for 4 and 5-year-olds! Those kids loved him! This gig lasted three years and I must admit, I looked forward to those Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Working alongside my dad was an honor.
Thinking he needed a social life, I volunteered him once again to take his unruly, yellow lab puppy Chico to obedience class. The lady teaching it was single too! Not only did I volunteer for the pair to go but he had to pay for the class! Luckily for us, neither Chico nor my dad was interested in the instructor.
As children and as grown-ups, we want our dad to be proud of us. Whether it was on the basketball court, competing at 4-H horse shows or singing, I often looked for my dad in the crowd and prayed that he was proud to have me as his daughter. I know I’m proud to have him for my dad. He’s one of a kind…
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The most vivid memory of my dad growing up was when at a very young age, he wrapped me up in the green, worn blanket to carry me to my grandparent’s house. A high fever and sore throat had invaded my body and despite the 2 pink baby aspirin I took, it did nothing to alleviate my symptoms or pain. Not having modern bathroom facilities or a telephone in the cabin, my mom arranged for us to use cool water flowing from their bathtub to try to reduce my temperature and to use their phone to call the doctor.
During the journey, the strength of his arms, the slow methodical breathing as he walked and the heat from his chest lulled me into a restful slumber. There was something about being secure in the arms of my Father that gave me the feeling of calmness and peace that all would be well. Despite my pain, knowing that my dad was there for me, I was able to endure the bout of strep throat.
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An avid hunter his entire life, my dad shot his last elk on December 30, 2019 at 80 years and 9 months. The 1,000 plus yard shot downed the elk immediately with a perfect lung shot! My brother Steve and I were witness to this extraordinary feat. Having severe COPD, the simple act of getting into the pickup truck took his breath away, taking several long minutes to regain much needed oxygen in his system. Having a handicap hunting license afforded him the opportunity to shoot from the vehicle. As the herd of 250 elk swarmed down the side of the mountain, it took all the energy my dad had to raise his rifle to the window. Being in the position he was, he had no choice but to shoot left-handed, opposite of the normal. Two shots were fired and as we waited expectantly, the sea of elk parted and we watched as a lone calf went down, killed instantly.
I am telling this story because only by the grace of God could this have happened. The odds were insurmountable against my dad. Only could God have orchestrated such a feat. It was a great testimony to how the Lord plans out every detail of our lives because of His love for us. It was a memory that Steve and I shall never forget, and a memory given for a lifetime to our family.
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I look forward to spending eternity with my dad and seeing him alongside mom in his heavenly prime of life. I’m thankful for Jesus Christ, who through His sacrifice for our sins, makes this possible. In an article from 2010, Billy Graham’s, How to be Born Again, includes this;
“Jesus Christ says that we must be born again. How do we become born again? By repenting of sin. That means we are willing to change our way of living. We say to God, “I’m a sinner, and I’m sorry.” It’s simple and childlike. Then by faith we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Master and Savior. We are willing to follow Him in a new life of obedience, in which the Holy Spirit helps us as we read the Bible and pray and witness.
If there is a doubt in your mind about whether you have been born again, I hope you will settle it now, because the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 6:2, “Now is the accepted time; … [today] is the day of salvation.””
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