10 Years Later, I Still Miss Dad
This year, 2011, marks the 10 year anniversary of my dad's death. Thinking about everything that has happened in my life since he left this world, it feels like the decade has just flown by. Since his death, I've graduated college, worked for 3 different companies, I've been unemployed twice, met and married my wife, and had my first child. It's sad to think dad wasn't around physically for all these events in my life.
One of the things I've been surprised by over the years is how little things remind me of dad. A commercial on TV, a scene in a movie, music, food, and just about anything else can conjure up memories. And after having my first child, seeing anything associated with fatherhood can also trigger thoughts of dad. It's bittersweet to think that my wife and I had our daughter when I was the same age as my dad was when him and mom had me. I am going through a lot of the same experiences he did, so I feel a closeness to my dad I didn't feel before, but I can't talk to him about it. And he won't be able to meet his grandchildren in this life, only in the next.
I don't mean for this to be a depressing, sad post. If there's one thing that has given me comfort over the years, it's my Catholic faith. My dad was a good man, but he had his flaws. Don't all dads? I have memories of dad being a great human being, and memories of dad behaving not so greatly. So is he in heaven? I don't know, and unless the Church proclaims him a saint, no one can know for certain. My hope is that he is in purgatory, because that means he's on his way to heaven, and it gives me great comfort to know I can continue to pray for the rest of his soul. Even if he can't help me anymore, I can still help him. And when I enter into the next life, I hope to see him again.
Eternal rest grant unto the soul of Pedrito Acierto, and may perpetual light shine upon him.
May his soul, and all the souls of the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.
One of the things I've been surprised by over the years is how little things remind me of dad. A commercial on TV, a scene in a movie, music, food, and just about anything else can conjure up memories. And after having my first child, seeing anything associated with fatherhood can also trigger thoughts of dad. It's bittersweet to think that my wife and I had our daughter when I was the same age as my dad was when him and mom had me. I am going through a lot of the same experiences he did, so I feel a closeness to my dad I didn't feel before, but I can't talk to him about it. And he won't be able to meet his grandchildren in this life, only in the next.
I don't mean for this to be a depressing, sad post. If there's one thing that has given me comfort over the years, it's my Catholic faith. My dad was a good man, but he had his flaws. Don't all dads? I have memories of dad being a great human being, and memories of dad behaving not so greatly. So is he in heaven? I don't know, and unless the Church proclaims him a saint, no one can know for certain. My hope is that he is in purgatory, because that means he's on his way to heaven, and it gives me great comfort to know I can continue to pray for the rest of his soul. Even if he can't help me anymore, I can still help him. And when I enter into the next life, I hope to see him again.
Eternal rest grant unto the soul of Pedrito Acierto, and may perpetual light shine upon him.
May his soul, and all the souls of the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.
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