Seasons of the Soul

Warm days fill us with delight
As dawn breaks into the light.
Colorful flowers bloom and grow
As the cool breezes blow.

Sunshine and rainbows fill our days
Breaking through the darkened haze.
We laugh and play the whole time wrong
Wasting our time singing our deceitful song.

But soon leaves will descend
As we begin another end.
The withering will pass away
For the colors to turn to grey. 

Cold, harsh reality comes to haunt
And death and evil start to taunt.
We cry and toil the whole time wrong
Having wasted our life-long song.

But hope lives in the seasons of regret
Giving us a chance to repent of wrong, yet.
Turn our hearts away from grey madness
From mourning to colorful gladness.

Today is my mother’s 85th birthday. My dad has cancer for the second time. My sister told us today has been difficult. My dad talks about his potential demise and his concern for his wife. It saddens me to think about it. Life is fragile, but we cling to hope, not false hope but real hope in a living Savior who lived and died to conquer death.

I think back on fun days growing up, of camping trips, climbing mountains, riding sleds down dunes, and fishing. My dad was the initiator of those fun times, those wonderful memories. Those memories bring both joy and sadness: joy remembering the fun, sadness knowing the one who gave them to me may be taken away.

I think of the cold, harsh reality that my dad one day will die, but then I remember that death is defeated. We will live again in the resurrection. So I hold out in hope.

My dad will turn 85 in November. He has lived a long and happy life for the most part. He has 5 children and 8 grandkids. I know he’s proud of every one of them, and we have him to thank for who we are.

Should my dad die, he wants us to celebrate his life, and we will do so.

I wrote this many years ago and will read it someday at his funeral.

My Dad

As I look back over the years,
And remember the joy and tears,
There is one steady, stable factor I see:
A man to lead and guide me,

A man who was always there,
A man who had real love and care,
A man who made us a close family,
A man who taught values and integrity,

A man who sacrificed his time,
A man who was firm, yet gentle and kind,
A man who saw us through good and bad,
A man whom I'm proud to call my dad.

I’m 60 years old and I’m still very much proud of my dad and I hope to be as great a dad to my kids as he was to me. My kids will be his legacy.