As I sat down to type, I decided that maybe a neat little poem would say the words I wasn't sure that I'd be able to find today.As I searched various websites, page after page, I found lots of poems; teary poems; beautiful poems… poems to fathers both here and gone.
But none were about MY dad.
I guess that means that once again; for this one last time; the words will be my own. Hopefully inspired by the One that has inspired so many of Dads’ words in years gone by!
This morning Tricia Lynn sent me an e-mail that, in part said, “Life feels kinda weird going back to normalcy”. Normalcy - What is that really? According to Merriam Webster it’s the state or fact of being the way things usually are; Normality.
I have a feeling that normalcy may not be something that I will ever experience again… if somehow it is, it will be through new routines, new practices and new customs. Things can never be as they ”usually” were?
There will, most certainly be healing. God will provide that in time. But there will always be a void. A void left by the passing of a wonderful husband, father, grandfather & friend!
I went to pull a scripture and ran across Proverbs 27:11
Become wise, dear child, and make me happy; then nothing the world throws my way will upset me. (The Message)
Then NOTHING... will upset me!
Dad strived to live his life that way. People always commented on how carefree he would be, even in the midst of turmoil. Dad had developed a 'Hang Loose' mentality that went waaaayyyyy beyond he & Trish's annual trips to Waikiki. It was a way of life.
Richard Carlson (author of Don't Sweat the Small Stuff) says:
If you think of strangers as being a little more like you and treat them not only with kindness and respect but with smiles and eye contact as well, you'll probably notice some pretty nice changes in yourself.
You'll begin to see that most people are just like you--most have families, people they love, troubles, concerns, likes, dislikes, fears, and so forth. You'll also notice how nice and grateful people can be when you're the first one to reach out.
When you see how similar we all are, you begin to see the innocence in all of us. In other words, even though we often mess up, most of us are doing the best that we know how with the circumstances that surround us. Along with seeing the innocence in people comes a profound feeling of inner happiness.
God willing, this will be my last official post on the blog. I thank you for allowing me a forum to have my own private (okay, not so private) therapy sessions here within these pages. I may sneak back in to continue my therapy as time goes by; for anniversaries, birthdays... who knows?
I do, however, want to leave you with a couple of words as I go. None of them my own.
Don't sweat the small stuff. Do a Toyota Jump now and then. Keep on Keeping on! Strive for the Prize! Enjoy the kid that we usually keep tucked deep inside!
But most of all...
Hang Loose! The Best IS Yet to BE!
Johnny:)