passing...

A friend from my hometown of Newport, Oregon lost his dad today. The dad, Gene Bateman, contracted pneumonia and things just got complicated from there. It was his appointed time. I was not close to Mike nor his father, but I am impacted none the less. Mike posted this on his facebook tonight... "RIP Dad - the greatest man I have ever known. I love you." Those few words speak volumes. Mike was so blessed to have experienced that special father/son connection. Grief and sadness were in those few words.

After the initial sadness, I felt relief when my dad passed. There was no "rest in peace, dad" there was no "your the greatest man I have ever known." A pain-filled relationship that God has been delivering me from over time... for that I am grateful. No I will never get that experience that Mike had... BUT instead of getting the father/son relationship, He is empowering me to give the father/son or daughter relationship to my kids. I will be more blessed because I will get the opportunity to give IT away 3 times and then some to the lives of kids lives I touch... Which is really more meaningful...