Today, for whatever reason I began to think about what would happen if my dad were to die. Morbid right? If he were to die today, I believe this would be the obituary in the newspaper...
Tom Welch, 52 of Williamsburg, Virginia, died on June 16, 2011 at 5:00 pm. Tom Welch is survived by his wife and three children. Tom Welch was a servant leader, a lion-hearted and lamb-like husband, sacrificing father, and a man who feared God. Tom Welch never appeared on Facebook or Twitter, but hundreds of people in Virginia and beyond testify about how much he loved them. He was never wealthy or powerful, but he kept growing as a Christian: yesterday's grace was never enough. He was a far sighted visionary and always encouraged his kids to have a plan and keep adding "rings" to your "key ring" which will unlock more doors. He taught his kids the importance of networking, hard-work, never giving up that which you start, and how to rely on God every moment of everyday. Every morning he could be found sitting in his office soaking his soul in the Bible and pouring out his heart to His Heavenly Father. He taught his kids how to tell a good story, (always include your dog and maybe a skunk or a porcupine), and how to pick up females (buy pencils). He taught his sons how to throw a baseball, shoot a basketball and how to fight. Only rarely did he break through his pattern of reserve and speak deeply and intimately with his children, but he modeled Christian virtues to them. He much preferred to avoid controversy than to stir things up, but his own commitments to historic confessionalism were unyielding, and in ethics he was a man of integrity. When he died, there were no crowds outside the hospital, no editorial comments in the papers, no announcements on television, no parade, no attention paid by the nation. In his hospital room there was only his wife by his bedside. In the room there was only the quiet hiss of oxygen, vainly venting because he had stopped breathing and would never need it again. But on the other side all the trumpets sounded. Tom Welch won entrance to the only throne room that matters, not because he was a good man or a great man, but because he was a forgiven man. And he heard the voice of him whom he longed to hear saying, "Well done, good and faithful servant; enter into the joy of your Lord."
Thank you Dad for everything. Happy Father's Day!
Tom Welch, 52 of Williamsburg, Virginia, died on June 16, 2011 at 5:00 pm. Tom Welch is survived by his wife and three children. Tom Welch was a servant leader, a lion-hearted and lamb-like husband, sacrificing father, and a man who feared God. Tom Welch never appeared on Facebook or Twitter, but hundreds of people in Virginia and beyond testify about how much he loved them. He was never wealthy or powerful, but he kept growing as a Christian: yesterday's grace was never enough. He was a far sighted visionary and always encouraged his kids to have a plan and keep adding "rings" to your "key ring" which will unlock more doors. He taught his kids the importance of networking, hard-work, never giving up that which you start, and how to rely on God every moment of everyday. Every morning he could be found sitting in his office soaking his soul in the Bible and pouring out his heart to His Heavenly Father. He taught his kids how to tell a good story, (always include your dog and maybe a skunk or a porcupine), and how to pick up females (buy pencils). He taught his sons how to throw a baseball, shoot a basketball and how to fight. Only rarely did he break through his pattern of reserve and speak deeply and intimately with his children, but he modeled Christian virtues to them. He much preferred to avoid controversy than to stir things up, but his own commitments to historic confessionalism were unyielding, and in ethics he was a man of integrity. When he died, there were no crowds outside the hospital, no editorial comments in the papers, no announcements on television, no parade, no attention paid by the nation. In his hospital room there was only his wife by his bedside. In the room there was only the quiet hiss of oxygen, vainly venting because he had stopped breathing and would never need it again. But on the other side all the trumpets sounded. Tom Welch won entrance to the only throne room that matters, not because he was a good man or a great man, but because he was a forgiven man. And he heard the voice of him whom he longed to hear saying, "Well done, good and faithful servant; enter into the joy of your Lord."
Thank you Dad for everything. Happy Father's Day!
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