Happy Birthday, Dad

"Who are you?" I found myself asking my silent, sedated sister. To our astonishment news of her illness spread like wildfire. It appeared her quiet life of faith, and example of leaning deeply & confidently into her gifts, had impacted the world. It was a tremendous consolation to me - and still is - to learn how loved she was, and all of it because she had shown love. 

"She stands on the shoulders of you and Dad," I told our Mom, one of those days. She brushed it off, but it is true. It was the foundation they laid that inspired Heidi to find herself, her truest identity, in Christ. It was with their encouragement that she embraced her many gifts and experienced the freedom to cultivate them in the service of love. It was their "yes" to a radical life that offered her connections to faith-filled people around the world who formed her, and were formed by her. Heidi would say it so much more eloquently than I, but on her behalf, as well as my own, thank you Mom & Dad.  

Dad and baby Heidi

A year ago, we celebrated our Dad's 70th birthday. It was just weeks after the births of Margaret and Felicity, but I was determined that 70 deserved a special celebration. Heidi, Kevin, Mark & I, along with our newborns, took Dad and Mom out for dinner. It was supposed to be the first of many such adults-only outings now that our children were old enough be on their own for a bit. It was the only. I have a memory of wanting to honor you, Dad, and I'm not sure if we did or not...

So, on this celebration of 71, I honor you for being Heidi's first example of the love of the Father. She mentioned to me multiple times throughout our lives, that she credited the protection and strengthening of the faith of us three sisters to your daily intercession for us. Sitting in your prayer recliner every morning, you were an example of how to pray - daily, intentionally - and the strong bulwark that shielded us. Your own stories shared at the dinner table, in which you heard God speak, direct, or saw Him work miracles, offered us a taste of what it meant to have a living faith and made us hunger for that ourselves. Your example of surrender and dependence on God taught us that God is trustworthy - a priceless gift in these months. In her own words, it was your example of Christian marriage that offered Heidi a delightful glimpse of what friendship in marriage could be and made her long for that for herself, giving us the gift of Kevin and her five beautiful children. 

...and it was the gift of faith you offered her that set Heidi firmly on the path that she has now completed. As a parent it must be a terrible cross and a tremendous gift at the same time to know that the goal of your parenthood has been accomplished in her, trusting that she has now heard those words we all long to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Master."

Happy Birthday, Dad. On Heidi's behalf, as well as my own, I love you.

Heidi, Kate, me (front to back)