Thank You
Posted on January 30, 2008
Filed Under Personal |
I want to sincerely thank all of you for your gracious comments and condolences that you have given to me following my Dad’s death. Your kind words have come through this blog site as well as through emails, letters and cards. I have greatly appreciated every one of them.
To some extent, it has been a little embarrassing. Under normal circumstances, I would have preferred to keep this somewhat private. In other words, not make a big deal of it. However, something strange has happened with this blogging thing. I find myself sensing an obligation to be rather open and honest with you. If something is happening in my life, I now feel guilty about hiding it. Strange, no?
But, I was deeply blessed in reading your comments. I confess many of them brought tears to my eyes as you recounted your own stories. You have lost your fathers as well, some in the past year, one of you two days before my Dad died. You have recently lost husbands, daughters, mothers, grandchildren and even a son in Iraq. Some of you lost your Dad when you were very young. Some lost your Dad after asking God to heal him, yet God took him anyway. Some were lost without warning; others were caregivers for many years and watched it approaching slowly. Some of you lost unbelieving fathers and I couldn’t imagine your grief; while another shared with their Dad for 39 years and rejoiced to see him accept Christ a few months before he died. Some of you lost your Dad over 20 years ago, and you expressed how you still miss him.
Yet, in the midst of your own grief, you offered your prayers and sorrow and wrote encouraging words. Some wrote poems. And thank you, Todd, for simply sending the words to “I’ll Fly Away”. That was special to me, for I have sung that song many times in my mind in the last four weeks.
Dad passed away one month ago today. Thank you for making it easier. You have become good friends.
Monday, the Lord willing, we will pick up the blogging task again.
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8 Responses to “Thank You”
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Dr. Del Tackett is president of the Focus on the Family Institute and Senior Vice President to Focus on the Family. He is also the architect and chief spokesperson for Focus on the Family's The Truth Project--a nationwide initiative designed to bring the Christian worldview to the body of Christ.
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Del,
Your text: “However, something strange has happened with this blogging thing. I find myself sensing an obligation to be rather open and honest with you. If something is happening in my life, I now feel guilty about hiding it. Strange, no?”
Strange? I would say no! What part of the body isn’t aware when another part of the same body is hurting? As members of the Body of Christ, your desire to share is natural and (at least for me if not most of us) very much expected. Let me put it this way… If you were silent for a month, and then later mentioned your loss; we would be hurt that we were not able to share your burden, express our sorrow, and display our concern for you and your family. Hmmm… As I typed the word “family” it occurred to me that, through Christ, are we not all family!?
I (we) cherish your honesty, your openness, and your candor Dr. Del. Don’t feel guilty. And please don’t stop sharing…
In His Service,
Dan…
God bless you and your family. Sincerely, a past student.
Thank you for writing even though you felt kind of embarrassed! I know that I speak for many when I say that I cherish and look forward to your posts. It makes me feel like I´m back at Focus on a Thursday afternoon, during lunch, asking you all sorts of questions, and listening to your counsel as you relate your experiences to us. I hope–God willing–that you keep writing on this blog thing for a very long time.
Dr. Tackett - I had the privilege of meeting you and learning from you during the Kansas City Truth Project Seminar approximately a year ago. I was amazed then at your commitment to God and to bringing Truth to His children and then to those still captive. You gave me the privilege of speaking with you for almost half an hour discussing the Truth Project and even comparing our lives and commitment to Truth. Family was obviously a very serious issue to you during the seminar and I express my deepest sympathy on the loss of your father. I too have been there. But I must take a differing viewpoint concerning your thank you sentiment. It is we who must thank you. Once again your reaction, sentiments and reliance on the Truth of God - His proven Truth Claims - is an inspiration for those of us you have touched. In that regard, I wanted to share with you that our discussions during the seminar have led to classes within our church and a ratification of my desire to use the course as a paradigm shift for our church to use as a basis for its faith and evangelism. The course has had a radical effect with people beginning to understand the true nature and attack against our society and its foundation, the Truth of God. In just the short year, several classes have spun off including everything from creationism to incorporating Truth into secondary school education. The course has raised my personal passion for studying and teaching the Word of God to a new level. But maybe more importantly, the incorporation of the deeper understanding of competing worldviews along with the nature of the Satanic and humanistic worldview making captives of those still unbelievers has allowed scripture to be more easily understood and homogenized in a viewpoint of taking back captives in a war and having compassion and love for those opposed. I just wanted to say thank you for being the catalyst and allowing God to use you to make a real difference.
Del -
Thank you! Thank you for being so genuine, so transparent and sincere. What a testimony and example for the rest of us.
How often do I let pride have its way and keep close guard of my pain, my concerns, and feelings. I pray that the Holy Spirit will do that work in me to make me more real and genuine to others…especially my family (the Body of Christ).
For Him!
Mike
Isn’t blogging great!? I was overwhelmed with emotion reading your thoughts and then to read the thoughts from all the responses brought tears to my eyes. thanks for sharing and i enjoy reading your thoughts as it continue to challenge me.
As you say in the Truth Project “Its about Relationships” Your church family has grown and become more accessible through this site. We cherish the intimacy this allows. The depth of friendship is of course limited but nevertheless valuable. Thank you for reaching out, and for being an example of transparency.Very important in a world of superficial outward appearances. May the Joy of the Lord be your strength.
I love your heart for the people and most of all for your testimony which has inspired both my husband and I. Someday I hope I meet you and your wife.