i realize i have not achieved frequency on this blog. life just happens. and i get kind of scared of writing what's happening to us because writing makes things quite real to me.
on june 8, just a little while after i posted the last entry, my daddy passed. he left the pain of cancer, but more than that, he left a legacy.
jim watts lived his life well. when i was very young -- about four, i think -- we had to do a project in pre-school. it was a book about our family. we had to describe our life. each item or person in our life got a page. on my daddy's page i said, "my dad makes money," and i think i drew a picture of a coin. i truly believed that that's what he did for a living. in reality at that point he made ball bearings. but in the twenty-plus years that have passed since i wrote that entry, i've learned that my daddy never worked to make money. he worked to provide for his family, yes. but my dad used his occupation (whatever it was at the time) to touch people's hearts.
my dad prayed with people. he prayed for people. he did good for people. he sacrificed so that total strangers might know the love of Christ. and that is truly, truly humbling.
my dad's visitation and memorial service taught me so much about who he was. there wasn't a single person that didn't tell jessica and me how proud he was of us. how he talked about us daily. how much he loved my mama. how great of a cook he was. how much of a giver he was.
music and cooking were "our" things. we shared a love of great tunes and recipes. it's been tough for me to cook since he died because who am i going to call to brag on myself? in some weird way, i cooked to make him proud. and, Lord help me when elton comes on the radio. he taught me to love all kinds of music and that good music makes the good times even better.
i pray that i grow more like my dad now that i'm aware of what makes a life well-lived.
it's been a journey learning to be a family of all girls. we are thankful for the men in our lives. scott and jon have been amazing rocks for all of us and we are so proud of dennis. and we have been lovin' like crazy on our newest family member, baby dean.
here's to new beginnings and cherishing the memories of those who've gone before us. i love you, dad.
3 comments:
I don't have anything smart to say. Or any good advice.
Instead, know that I think of you and your dad so often. I love you Emily sue. So, so much.
Ps. You can call me to brag about your cooking :)
thanks for sharing...i know how much you girls loved your dad though...i remember your dad's smile and you guys have that same smile.
Emily - this is beautiful. I read a few entries - starting with the one about Denis leaving. I will pray for you all. This has been a difficult season, to say the least and the losses are crushing. God is very near to the contrite (crushed) heart. I pray you can hear the beat of his heart tonight.
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