Crowned

Mom's sweetheart from high school, my dad was so cute, fun-loving, smart, clever, and a witty, witty guy. But, once this Crown and its friends got hold of him, he hardly stood a chance.

Alcoholism consumed my dad for a large percentage of his life. It was in control. Visits were hard sometimes for a little girl to understand with a sweet, but sobbing, slurring man telling her once or twice a year how much he loved her. What is interesting though...No matter his state, I ALWAYS knew he loved me. He truly did. I often could feel the sadness in his heart about his life not quite turning out the way he wished. Oh how it ached my heart too.

The disease took him to some pretty dark places, most of which I probably don't even know about. I imagine it was terribly lonely. I imagine it was depressing and most of all trapping, like a prisoner yearning to be freed whose sentence was already set.

Eventually, his body began to fail and he was hospitalized in the last days of his life. I am so sorry for all you went through, dad, and wished I could have helped.

Someone did.
Carol, a client and a friend of my Aunt's, prayed for my dad for several years, having never met him. She felt that the Lord impressed on her to talk to him, and the day came when it was time. A mother and wife, she took time from her family to drive from Tomball to Houston just to see him. She said he was ready, that the Holy Spirit had prepared his heart.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

After they talked and she read some of God's word from the Cowboy Bible, he prayed to receive the Lord.

He accepted that Jesus, with a crown of thorns on his head, died for us, so that we could live. That day, God through His only son, cleansed my dad from the death grip of Crown Royal and the like to His Crown of Righteousness.

"Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous Judge,
will award to me on that day--and not only to me,
but also to all who have longed for his appearing." 2 Timothy 4:8

"This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ
to all who believe." Romans 3:22
Although his body was failing, he was made completely new that day. I believe he finally found peace, rest, and freedom. It was a miracle, a blessing, a complete act of undeserved favor...grace. I picture that His Heavenly Father opened His arms like any daddy would do and scooped him up in a joy and love even a parent couldn't describe.

7 days later he died....at least his physical body did.
At his funeral, Carol entrusted me with the Cowboy Bible used to share the most important words he ever heard. I keep it close to my heart, visible in my home, as an incredible reminder.

You know, none of us is any different from my dad. That's one thing I've learned. We all let things come between us and accepting God's love for us. Some of them are just easier to hide or more socially acceptable.

I can actually be thankful that my dad was so broken, so down, so spent that he needed somewhere to turn, and there was only One that could bring the freedom he longed for. So many of us go through life thinking we're doing pretty well on our own, that we're a pretty good person, pretty successful in our jobs, etc...

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Romans 3:23-24
I only wish my dad could have lived more of his life knowing how incredibly much God loves him.

Thank you, Carol, for your obedience, faithfulness, and your love in Jesus Christ. You helped my dad to be healed and made new. There are no words to describe what you did for our family that day.
Thank you.