My Dad passed away on January 8th. It wasn't unexpected as he'd been home on Hospice Care since the end of September. I had a nice week visiting him in October and I really thought I had been dealing with the emotional pain of losing my Dad.....but that was an illusion. I was kidding myself. There is a huge gaping hole in my heart.
I could search the world and never find a kinder more honorable man that my Daddy. He taught me so much about life and loving. For example I was born and lived in the Roling Fork, Mississippi during the 1950's and 1960's. Prejudice ran rampant. But Daddy always told me that God created people of all colors and religions. God loved us all and we were all equal. He taught me to say Yes Ma'am and Yes Sir to all adults, regardless of race. My Mother's parents, who I was very close to, would get very upset when I said Ma'am or Sir to blacks but my Daddy explained although my Grandparents were good people, they weren't educated. As an adult, I realize how difficult it must have been for my Dad to live his beliefs back then. I am eternally thankful.
Another example of my Dad's faith and love is when his beloved brother was killed and left on the side of the road by a kidnapper/hitch hiker. I was about 11 years old and I said, "I hate that man."
My Father's response was, "Bonnie you should pray for him instead of hating him because he must be very troubled to kill another person. God wouldn't want you to hate him."
It was just the two of us, my Dad and I, from the time I was 14 till he remarried when I was about 19 or 20. During those teenage years, I'm sure it was difficult for him. But I never got into any trouble because I wanted him to be proud of me. All he had to say was "You don't want me to worry, do you?" or "Do you want be to be disappointed?" And of course I'd chose to do the "right" thing.
He was married to Gerri for over 30 years and they had the best marriage I've have ever seen. Each morning he'd wake up cheerful and say to her, "How's my beautiful wife this fine morning?" They raised her two daughters together, which he adopted. And in his last few months of life Gerry, Donna and Denise took care of him and nursed him night and day.
Just a few days before he died, Father Paul asked if there was anything he could do or anything he wanted. My Father's response was, "No. I have everything I ever wanted in life. I'm a very lucky man."
All my life, people would say to me, "Do you know how much I love your Dad?" Or "Your Dad is just wonderful!" That love and respect was so evident at his wake and funeral which were both held in his church. Numerous people, from young to old, stood up to say what Bill Strickland meant to them. I know how much he meant to me but it was awesome to hear and see how many lives he has touched with his love of God and mankind.
I will always love you Daddy.
Oh Bonnie. It's just over a year, and I'm still raw about my dad. I don't think the hole ever closes. I'm sure the rough edges get smoother though. Sending a hug...wish there was more.
Posted by: Sharon | January 22, 2007 at 11:16 PM