Father's

Four weeks ago Bill Finney, my father-in-law walked into the arms of Jesus.

I’ve experienced a roller-coaster of emotions since that night as I struggle to grasp the understanding of Bill’s ultimate healing and yet feel the sorrow and suffering felt not only by me but also by Bill’s youngest son. I’ve reflected on the day I met Bill and Micah. Micah leaned against the counter in their kitchen with his arms crossed across his chest, stern look on his face, not saying a word, an imposing picture. Bill on the other hand, though physically worn from his four month adventure, was ever the southern gentleman, smiling, charming and I fell immediately in love with this family. I was Bill’s nurse, my role was to create a caregiving plan, train the caregiver, care for the patient, advocate as needed. Micah…he was the castle guard. He exuded a desire to protect his father from any nonsense I was there to hand out. I knew I was going to have to pull out all the stops to make this situation work.  Four years later and I sit in wonder at God’s amazingly perfect plan. His ways, truly, are not our ways…

In the last four weeks I have spent hours and hours sitting on the floor sorting through boxes and tubs of photos and mementos that only begin to represent a life. The attempt to tell the story of a man and his impact on his family and the world through snapshots and newspaper clippings falls dismally short. However, what I saw weaved through these memories was the beautiful story of God’s mercy, His transforming power, the grace He offers so generously. Bill was not a verbally expressive man, perhaps due to his southern upbringing, but he was a writer and a photographer. His heart was expressed in words through letters to his sister and in the photos he took of his sons and their mother expressing great tenderness in every shot.

Father’s have such power. I am unwaveringly convinced that we see the work of the enemy in the hearts of men because he knows if that power is thwarted he has all but won the battle. Bill Finney barely knew his own father whom he lost as a child. He became a father to Scott when he married Scott’s mother. The enemy lost this battle. It happened late in life, but Bill Finney knew Jesus, his bride knew Jesus and his sons know Jesus.

My earthly father knows Jesus as well and I was blessed to hear of Jesus love from a young age and see it demonstrated in the life of my dad. Experiencing the love of a father who loves Jesus – I know this has been the anchor that has tethered me through the storms in my own life; and there have been many. Conversely at times I experience heavy sorrow for the loss of that experience in the lives of my own children. Then God reminds me that He is the Father to the fatherless, He sees and knows the pain, He provides all we need, all they need and He loves them more than I could every understand. Again, the grace and mercy of our Lord washes over me and I count my blessings.  The blessings of my own father who has been a Godly grandfather to my children and the blessing of gifting us with Micah who I know loves my children as if they were his very own.  God does provide and He restores and through His restoration lives are transformed. 

Bill Finney is now dwelling with his heavenly Father…he left his son to be a father to my children… I am so blessed and thankful for the day I met Iron Man Bill Finney.