Fabcast #610 - Dealing with Dads Sudden Death with grief and joy

It rocked my world when I walked into dad's hospital room not realizing he had departed this world. Mom looked at me and said, “He’s been promoted to glory.” I responded, “here’s gone!?” Then I wept uncontrollably. I was in shock and disbelief. My brother-in-law, Alan, was standing next to me and just held me. I felt robbed and discombobulated. A few days passed and I realized how gracious God was in the midst of all of the shock, pain and grief. The fact that I got stationed in my hometown (San Clemente, CA) next to Pendleton and spent the last two years hanging out with my dad, shooting together, fishing, men’s Bible studying, going on the MarkedMenforChrist.com retreat together, talking about stocks, developing a deep friendship, bringing my kids over every week, etc... It’s all a gracious gift from God in his perfect timing. At 66 years young, he served Jesus and lived a life of freedom in Christ. He lived life to the fullest. Died with nothing pending. Put everything on the table and lived fearlessly and free. He was forced to retire at 57 when the nuclear power plant was shut down. That disguised blessing allowed him to travel with my mom, Have breakfast with her every morning in their garden, conduct missions trips, and invest in the grandchildren for over a decade! What a gracious gift from God. Dad evaded death and overcame illness several times in his life: Motorcycle crash on the I-5 freeway, Guillain–Barré syndrome, prostate cancer, COVID-19, pneumonia, etc. All those things couldn’t kill him. But as Dad always reminded me, “it is appointed once for man to die and after that to face judgment.” This was his time. This is giving me an entirely new perspective on my job and calling as a pastor and comforter to those who are grieving. I’ll be back in the saddle with the pedal to the metal, just like my dad would encourage me to do. The words of Isaiah 57:1 have given me tremendous peace! I reflect on it daily. https://photos.app.goo.gl/nvcuMrubb8jPWG5A9. Grief recovery playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGoyPpwPotkVwh80eyyaJQjGtJDbrtJ4m