Remembrance of A Man Who Walked with God

Posted by on Sep 29, 2017 | 10 comments

Remembrance of A Man Who Walked with God

Remembrance, tender, bittersweet, touched with laughter and tears, filled with wondering about opportunities lost and strengths gained through struggle. Today is a day of remembrance and tribute for the most incredible man I have ever known–my dad. 

 

 

Remembrance of a Man Who Walked with God

My Two Fathers

He fills his hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark. Job 36:32

My Two Fathers scripture

“His Bible and his prayer life were his lifeline and guide.” Pastor Norm Boshoff

 

When I was very little and afraid of the storm,

My father would hold me, so I felt safe and warm.

Silly songs, funny stories, and wild games we would play—

The fun and his love chased the bad things away.

The lightning and thunder were never so bad

When I was held safe in the arms of my dad.

As I grew older and the problems grew more large,

The gentle, patients answers still came straight from his heart.

There was no more important thing he ever had to do

Than take time to show— the important thing was you.

He never gave anyone less than his best,

No matter what the need was, his commitment stood the test.

When lightning struck our house one night,

Shattering the darkness with its brilliant light—

Hobbling on crutches from a broken leg,

He soon had us laughing from the jokes that he made.

Once certain that all would soon be well—

He soon had another great story to tell.

Many things set my father apart,

Not the least of which was his great, loving heart.

People who came to my father in need

Always left knowing they had a friend indeed.

He did much to further the Father’s plan

By the generosity of his giant hands.

My Two Fathers - Norm Boshoff

My father rose each morning to meet with his Lord.

He loved Him and served Him and cherished His word.

He was a man of great strength—yet gentle and kind

Because he loved the Lord Jesus with heart, soul, and mind.

He would say that if anything set him apart,

It was the presence of the Savior, who lived in his heart.

Then the lightning once again appeared,

Something all in the family but my father feared.

He, rather than seeing something to fear—

Said it showed the protection of God very clear.

For all in the house were both safe and sound

And only slight damage to the house was found.

As the years passed by, the family grew,

The son-in-laws came, and the grandchildren, too.

Each one he loved in a unique special way,

And faithfully, for each one, he daily would pray—

Upon our family, God’s blessings were poured,

Because each day my father spent time with his Lord.

It could have been just a regular day,

But our heavenly Father didn’t see it that way.

A man going fishing—just and ordinary man—

But our heavenly Father had another plan.

Ordinary things, when you live for the Lord,

Can often have bearing on eternal reward.

Once more, God’s lightning entered our lives,

And on fiery wings, bore my father home, through the skies.

The look on his face showed amazement, they said,

And confirmed for us all that he was not really dead.

He had gotten his first glimpse of his heavenly home,

And he knew that our Lord would not leave us alone.

My Two Fathers - Norma Gail

The lessons that he taught us through the life that he lived;

And the Lord that he gave all the love he could give;

Are still here inside us—though he’s gone from our sight

Across that wide river— the River of Life.

He’s sitting there watching—he knows we will come;

And from his side, it really won’t be very long.

If we could just see—each event in our lives—

Is meant just to show us, God is loving and wise.

The traits that I loved in my father, you see,

Are all of the things God will be—just for me.

And so when I long for Daddy’s face—just to see,

I’ll look up to heaven—where two fathers wait for me.

Copyright, 2001, Norma Gail Thurston Holtman

 

 

 

Norma Gail author

About the author:

Norma Gail’s debut contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams, won the 2016 Bookvana Religious Fiction Award. A women’s Bible study leader for over 21 years, her devotionals and poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America, Historical Writers of America, and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. Norma is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 41 years. They have two adult children. If you’re interested in connecting with me, I invite you to follow my blog, join me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Goodreads, or Amazon.

 

 

 

10 Comments

  1. Beautiful tribute of a gracious and godly man, dear Norma. <3
    Blessings as you remember your daddy ~ Wendy

    • Thank you, Wendy! He was one of a kind.

  2. Beautiful, Norma.

    • Thank you, Victoria! For some reason this year is especially tough.

  3. Beautiful tribute.

    • Thank you, Ann. This poem was God’s gift to me the first Father’s Day following his death.

  4. I wish I could have met your dad, Norma. Thank you for sharing him with us.

    • You’re welcome, Nan! He was such a blessing. I am always amazed by how many people who knew him say they think of him often. He would find it embarrassing. I find it a tremendous blessing.

  5. Beautiful to your Dad, Norma Gail. Thank you for sharing. I look upward when I’m missing my dad, too. Anniversary 17 is coming up when my wonderful dad made the journey to heaven. Hugs and blessings.

    • Hugs and blessings to you, too! Gone but not forgotten.

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