My Dad, Joseph Augustine Reynolds is being called by to find his way back home to God.

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Permalink Reply by Cindy Skillman on May 9, 2009 at 10:58am

Chris,

I too lost my father a couple of years ago and yes, it's bittersweet. On the one hand, I'm so grateful he's home and doesn't have to go on suffering. On the other hand, I want my daddy back. May the God of all comforts comfort you as He has me and my family. He is big enough to get you through this.

Love, Cindy

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Permalink Reply by Chris on May 9, 2009 at 11:09am

Thank you so much Cindy. That was very sweet of you to share those words of comfort that come from your spirit of God.

My Love in Christ extends to you,

Chris

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Permalink Reply by Chris on May 10, 2009 at 10:33am

I want to give you a heartfelt thank you from me to you for your concern for me with my Dad’s illness and imminent passing to the next journey in life. He is now a shell of a man subsisting. I will always remember him as the stout man swinging his hammer with a cigar in his mouth, coming to my basketball games and his full acceptance and support of me and everyone he ever met and his impact on so many people’s lives. I think I told you, I was the last one to talk to him before him his last strokes which have left him unable to communicate. We took a road trip to my mother’s grave, made peace with her and God and chatted about life and then watched a DVD “Cinderella Man”( who came back to be the heavyweight boxing champion of the world through sheer will and never doubting) and ate pizza and chatted for hours. God, has bestowed upon me a precious gift to spend that time with him. My life has been difficult the last several years and that lifetime gift was rendered on me.



I remember that he has always been a family man till death, a humble man, a simple man, yet very intelligent, going to all my high school basketball games and always and easy smile and a heart of gold. Once he loves it never changes for his large extended family. I will take those memories for a lifetime and know the angels will guide him gently to heaven and he will have a good place in the kingdom of God.

Do you know it is a miracle I even exist? He was in WW2 and he had artillery fire coming in as he was a front line corporal radio man for the troops. His fellow soldier told him to jump on top of him in his foxhole since Dad did not have one. When the artillery fire was over, Dad got up unharmed, and the man underneath had one piece tiny fragment of metal that punctured his temple and killed him with just a trickle of blood. It was one life for another. God had plans for my dad. He went home decorated and then had 8 children and would have had 9 as one was still born whose name is John.

I can picture his spirit rising up as the stout formidable man he was walking strongly to heaven with peace and a great smile as God welcomes him with open arms and says to my Dad, I am proud of you my son. You have brought the kingdom with you as your life was a Godly one. Pray for my Dad, for peace and no pain and the rest of us left behind to stay bonded as this has done for us. There has never been one of of discension when it comes to my Dad amoung our very opinionated independent 8 siblings. All my love to you for prayer and in Christ I thank you all.


Chris

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Permalink Reply by Corinne Joubert on May 11, 2009 at 10:28am

Chris our prayers are with you in this time. We pray Father, that Joe will find the peace in his Spirit at this time to come home to you!

Chris, I know what you are going through & it is not nice to see the people you love & admire slip into a state where you can hardly recognise them as the awesome dynamic men & women of God. We will carry you & your family in our prayers too that you will find comfort in this time & when the time arrives that the grieving period will be swift but complete.

My grandmother passed away in the early hours the day after her 85th birthday. She suffered for almost 3 years from a major shock and developed dementia. We would always get a glimpse of the lady she used to be but the day the Lord took her home, although it was sad we were rejoicing for her time of suffering was over. The pain of the grief goes away but the tender memories remain to "warm the cockles of your heart" - as my granny used to say.

So I just wanted to let you know that we are thinking of you and trust that the Lord will carry you all through this time!

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Permalink Reply by Chris on May 11, 2009 at 11:04am

Courine,

I cannot thank you enough for your encouragement and prayers. Death is bittersweet but is part of life. It will sink in that both of my parents will be gone as they were the leaders of the family and glue that kept us all together. I think that gift they gave us of giving to others without measure, will bring to us a promise, almost seen, as we all live hand in hand. You have made my day! Bless you in Christ's name.

Chris

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Permalink Reply by Maggy on May 11, 2009 at 1:50pm

Praying for you and your family and also for your trip going to see your Dad

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