Go Rest High On That Mountain

Recently my friend, Mark, reintroduced me to a song that I had not heard in quite awhile. "Go Rest High On That Mountain" was originally recorded by Vince Gill. For the past few days I have listened to it over and over. Music is my peace in times of trouble and turmoil. When I don't have the words to say or life is throwing rocks, I can always count on the Lord to give me a song.This is a beautiful melody and I can only imagine it has been performed at countless funerals since it was written.
Tomorrow, Debbie, Stacey, Trey, and I will make the drive back to Wilmington to be there for Daddy's services on Friday. When those services are over, we'll pack up and leave for Salisbury, NC where we'll have graveside services on Saturday and lay Daddy to rest beside momma. I have spent some time today trying to organize my thoughts and seeking God's will as to what I should share at the services on Friday. I know we have each thought alot about what the hospice counselor told us last week and that was to tell the story of WHO my dad was and what will be his legacy. That is not difficult for me. I could talk for hours about my dad. He taught me about patriotism. He taught me about hard work and loyalty. He instilled in me the drive to always take care of my family. He invested many hours in teaching me about boating, fishing, and hunting. I will always have a love of airplanes and flying because of the hours he spent talking to me about different aspects of aviation. While I will never have his ability to work with my hands the way that he did, I do have his mind inasmuch as I can usually take a problem or situation and analyze it to a acceptable solution. I will be forever grateful for the love I have for the sea and that all came through my father.
I'm still feeling lost. I find myself having a thought and it bringing a tear. It wasn't too long ago that we were sitting in his living room and he was describing his funeral service to me. He mentioned some songs....his country owes him a flag and TAPS and he wants that as well. He asked me to be strong for the sisters. That I did not give him. I'm sorry daddy.

What Is Dying?

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.
Then someone at my side says, "There, she is gone."
"Gone, where?"
Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.
Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at that moment when someone at my side says, "there, she is gone," there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad show, "here she comes!"

While those of us here on earth said, "there, he is gone", I can hear momma now saying to all our relatives and friends that are with her in glory, "here he comes."

I Don't Know What To Do

When I don't know what to do....
I lift my hands.
When I don't know what to say....
I sing Your praise.
When I don't know where to go...
I run to Your throne
When I don't know what to think...
I stand on Your truth.