Remembering Dad

This past Friday, June 25, 2010, my father-in-law passed away.  He went home to be with Jesus.  And though I am saddened and I often find myself crying at the very thought of him, I rejoice in the fact that he is in heaven, praising God and that he is without sin. 

I think of the children that my husband and I will one day have (Lord willing).  We pray that we will be able to honor their grandfather with the memories we have of him.

As I sat during my father-in-law's funeral, I was overwhelmed by how many people God used him to influence.  I was so touched by how many people loved him and us-his family.  I was speechless when a parking lot could not hold all of the cars and the sanctuary could not hold all of the people that had come to mourn, yet celebrate his homecoming. 

What does any of this have to do with hair?  I suppose nothing really. But it reminded me just how short life is.  This past weekend, I was reminded of what a beautiful person my father-in-law was on the inside.  None of the external things we place so much importance on mattered as we remembered the man he was, not how he looked.  And that is how God judges us: by what's on the inside, not the outside.

It's not wrong to want to be beautiful.  We SHOULD take care of our bodies!  We SHOULD be healthy and exercise and look our best!  But it's the inside of our hearts that we should be most focused on!  The most beautiful people to me are my husband, my mother and father, my family and friends because of their inner beauty.  They are beautiful because of how they live and how they serve and encourage and love others. 

                                          We'll miss you Dad!