No more long Sunday drives

Through the quiet countryside.

No more seeing his smiling face

When I find him in his favorite place.

No more watching Mr.Green

Or some other PBS comedy

And hear him laugh aloud

With his laughter filling the house.

No more hearing sometimes stern and sometimes gentle voice;

It is silent now like a deep, empty void.

No more seeing him hunched over in the garage

Determined to fix the truck, tractor, or car.

No more watching him in the fields

Planting, harvesting, or tilling.

No more playing with him outside

Teaching me to play ball, oh how he tried.

Dad could coach me to hit here and there

But I was not meant to be a softball player.

No more fishing at the little pond

Where once I caught a trout with my own rod.

Dad said my fish was too small

So he unhooked it and gently let it go.

No more summer celebrations or holidays

To see him so joyful and to wish him Happy Birthday.

No more waiting in the dark and the late night

To see his car arrive by the beam of his headlights.

For many nights I had laid in bed wide awake

Until I knew dad was home from work and was safe.

Also no more seeing him suffer in great pain

As illness riddled his once strong and tall frame.

For he lived with increased pain for years;

Some days were good but others full of hurt and fear.

But now I know he lives in another world far above

Inside of God’s great grace and amazing love.

He is alive and well in the lofty realms of heaven

Living forever in God’s everlasting kingdom.