But I'm also thankful for brunch with my Dad. This week we've had breakfast together no less than 4 mornings! For so many years, I treasured the special time that my Dad and I would get to spend together... just the two of us. In fact, that's what we called it, our "special time". "S" time for short. Now it's my Dad, my son and I.... just the three of us. Our "S" time.
Four years ago, when Dad was diagnosed with stage 4 multiple myeloma, the statistics, the internet research and most doctors gave us a grim prognosis. I prayed a lot during those initial days when the diagnosis was still sinking in. Mostly I prayed that God would give him the strength to face whatever lie ahead. I prayed that He would give us all strength. I never specifically prayed for God to save my dad. I know that others did, I just never really believed that prayer worked that way. Rather, I felt that the plan for my father's life was already in motion and while we had to do our part to find him the best doctors and he had to fight as hard as he could, we also had to trust God's plan- even if we hated the plan. The thought of living life without my father in it was as unbearable as anything I could imagine.
That said, there was one selfish wish that from the deepest part of my soul, I begged God to grant me.
"Please God, just let my children know him. Let him meet my children."
At the time of my Dad's diagnosis I was with the man that I knew I'd one day marry, but children were still a distant plan.
"Please God, I'll never ask for anything again, just let my children know their grandfather. They'll be such better people for his influence. Besides, I'll never be able to explain to them how amazing he is. They have to see for themselves. "
Four years later, on March 4th, 2009, my parents arrived at the hospital just after our baby boy arrived. When I watched my husband hand our son over to my father, now in complete remission, my heart smiled. I whispered thank you to God.
Every time we have our special breakfasts together, I sip coffee and my Dad effortlessly divides his attention between conversation with me and playing with his grandson. He calls my son "Big Time" and loves to playfully tickle him. He'll announce that he's just going to "rest his finger" in his neck, which elicits a tickle, a giggle and a look of love from my son. I know the look because it's similar to the one that I've given my father all of my life.
When a person you absolutely cannot fathom living without gets cancer, nothing is ever the same. I never take little moments like these for granted anymore. Without fail, in my head, I always whisper, to God, to the universe, to fate, to whoever......... "Thank you".
No comments:
Post a Comment