My Children's Viewpoint

Man. Woman. Birth. Death. Infinity. We enter this life empty and we leave this life with whatever truths we have gained. We choose how we are going to see life, in peace or in strife. We learn from that which surrounds us. Sometimes we learn from the elder, sometimes from our peers, and sometimes we experience the joy of learning through the mouths and actions of babes.

This last Thursday morning, my family packed up for a trip to Texas to visit my family. I had gotten used to the phone calls coming at least once a year for the past 9 years, telling me that the doctors wanted my mom to prepare the family for my father's eminent departure from this world. Each and every time my dad has come back fighting. He's been a scrapper since day one.

Last Sunday, though, when my mom called, I could sense a difference. Though everything looked bad, my dad was fighting back and seemed to be recovering. Still, I couldn't help the nagging feeling in the forefront of my mind telling me that my dad's long battle was almost over.

For the next couple of days, my husband and I discussed whether, with my back, I needed to fly or take the train. Both of those options would take too long, we felt, given the availability, so we decided to pack up the clan and drive to Pearland. I am glad we decided to come then rather than wait for the train that would have arrived in Houston this evening.

When I first saw my dad, he slightly opened one eye in acknowledgement that I was here, but that was the most he could muster. My uncle and two aunts, my dad's siblings, stayed with my mother, brother, and myself in the room at the nursing home where Dad was in hospice care. Having already talked it over with Richard, we agreed that we would give Dad a chance to see our children one more time, thereby giving them a chance to say whatever they wanted to say to him as well. I am so glad we did.

Nyssa walked in first, boldly beside my dad's bedside. "Hi Pops! It's me, Nyssa!" She was bubbly to see him, but when he didn't respond, she turned shy and was a little shaken. She then whispered in my ear things to tell him. Just before she left the room, she touched his arm tenderly with her hand and said, "I'll see you in Heaven. I love you." When she left the room with my Mom, one of the nurses followed behind with tears in her eyes.

A few minutes later, after discovering he was crying insistently that he MUST see Pops, Mom brought Nathaniel in as well. He walked up to my dad and smiled his big, bright smile that outshines Reba McEntire's smile. Nathaniel stood next to Dad's bed and waved excitedly at him. "Hi Pops! I'll see you in Heaven. Bye Pops! I love you!" He put his hands to his ears because the rattle in my dad's breath was too much for him and he walked happily out of the room with me back outside to see the ducks in the pond.

Richard went in next, with Benjamin and Gabriela. Though I didn't witness what happened, I was told that Benjamin stayed back but waved at him and said, "Bye Pops, see ya in Heaven," and that Dad wiggled his toes in response. Gabriela sat in his lap a on the edge of the bed and started calling to him. "Pops. Pops. Pops!" At first she started to get mad that he wouldn't answer her, then tilted her head, looked worried, and just sat with him for a minute and said, "Bye bye, Pops." Apparently, a nurse walked out then as well, with tears in her eyes.

Yesterday morning, Dad passed away in his sleep with myself, my brother, and my mom in the room. We told the kids, who all thought for a moment and said that he is in Heaven now and can walk and talk and sing again. They extemporised on all the things he can do now that he couldn't just a couple days ago.

Though we will all miss my Dad, just leave it to my children to put everything into perspective. We know where his heart is. Though he wasn't perfect, as none of us are, he did receive Jesus as his Savior and so we know he is in Heaven and we will see him again one day. He is happy and free. He is where he belongs.