Losing my Dad

  June 14, 2008

The day my world turned completely upside down.

The day I lost my dad.

      

    The summer between 4th and 5th grade I was having a sleepover with my cousin when my mom got a phone call that my dad had been in a motorcycle wreck. Later that night I had found out that he didn't make it. I was crushed. This wasn't something anybody could have predicted. It was a total freak accident. As a 10 year old little girl I didn't really know how to react. 

    In a situation like this, for someone who believes in God, there are two different ways you can react. You can become angry at God; hating him for unfairly taking someone from you that you loved so dearly. Or, you could cling to God; you could cling to him with everything that you've got because that's really the only way you can get through it. That is exactly what I did.

    I prayed constantly. I never asked God why though. I knew that things happened for a reason.  I knew that God had a purpose for taking my dad away from me and although it was very hard, and I did break down and still do sometimes, I accepted that. 

    I'm not going to pretend that I didn't want him back because trust me I did. Even though I knew how selfish it was of me to want someone who is kneeling at the foot of God himself to be sent back to this wicked world, I still had this hope that maybe one day he would walk through the door again singing one of his goofy songs like it was all just some sort of joke. 

   After things had finally settled down I really started clinging to God. I would spend hours just reading His Word and it brought me comfort and a sense of hope. At this time I wrote down a few of the verses that gave me hope and I believe they can do the same for anyone going through a tough time wether it's a death in the family, sickness, poverty, or even something as small as a breakup.

I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God, protect me.       -Psalm 69:29

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.                -Matthew 5:4

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.    -James 1:2-3 

Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?   -1 Corinthians 15:55 

    When faced with a tragedy like mine, turn towards God not away from him! He's strong enough to handle your questions, your grief, and your anger. Ignoring him won't help anything; unloading your burdens on him will. 

   I am the person I am today because of what has happened to me. I'm not thankful that my dad passed away, but I am thankful that through that experience God has made a me a stronger person, a more mature Christian, and an overcomer with a story that I pray can give others the hope that God gave me.

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