October 18, 2006

• In Honor of my Father

  My Daddy went home to be with His Lord and Savior on October 12, 2006. Daddy had been diagnosed with acute anemia several years ago. This past June the anemia began to progress and by October he was diagnosed as having leukemia. Daddy didn’t want to spend his last days in the hospital so Mama brought him home where she, my sister and I cared for him until his last day. I’m thankful that he was able to spend his last days in his own home. He was at peace and in no pain when he breathed his last breath surrounded by those who loved him the most. What a blessing and honor to give him such a gift!

  
  

  We are having a “Celebration of Life” for Daddy this next Tuesday. I was asked by my Mother to write a tribute. I’d like to share it in honor of my father.

  
  

  This picture is of Daddy and my mother with one of their 9 great-grandchildren.

  
  

  

  
  

  Written by Georgene Girouard (George’s oldest daughter)

  
  

  I’ve always heard it said that our actions speak louder than our words. My Daddy wasn’t a man of many words but his actions spoke volumes and the book that he wrote with his life is filled with good and precious memories. I learned so much by observing the way he lived and I’m sure those lessons will continue to teach me the rest of my life. Many people leave behind a legacy of actions that speak to their shame but in my heart I have a treasure chest full of loving memories that bring me comfort each time I think of my father and our life together.

  
  

  There are many admirable words that would describe my father but if I had to pick just one I would choose the word FAITHFUL. Daddy was a FAITHFUL man in all of his relationships. He was a faithful husband, father, son in law, employer, church member and on the list would go.

  
  

  I watched my father and mother’s marriage relationship over the years and always marveled at Daddy’s consistent faithfulness to my mother. He remained faithful to her in big ways but also in a million little small ways. He faithfully showed her honor in public by always opening and closing her door for 53 years and never raising his voice to her. He showed his faithfulness by helping her with the chores in the home. Daddy showed his faithfulness by supporting her talents and hobbies. He not only supported them financially but became involved in whatever she did. When she took up ceramics he came right along with her and learned to use the kiln and help with the production. When she began playing piano in church he came to the practices and learned to run the soundboard. He would always walk up to the platform and take her hand and help her walk down the steps while carrying her heavy book. Whatever Mama wanted to do, Daddy supported. They were inseparable, especially after retirement. You rarely saw Mama that Daddy wasn’t along, too. I’ve learned so many good lessons from my parents and the way they related to each other in their marriage. But, the most important one has to do with their faithfulness to each other to do all they could to make the other persons life happy.

  
  

  How blessed I am, as his daughter, to be able to say that I have not even one bad memory of the 49 years I knew him. Imagine that!! I’m sincerely telling the truth when I say I can never remember a time when he raised his voice, said an unkind word, treated me unfairly, put his own needs above my own or disciplined me harshly. My memory is flooded with only kind and good thoughts about my childhood and adult years with him. How many daughters can say such a thing? The older I grew I came to realize what a gift the Lord had given me in such a kind and caring father.

  
  

  My greatest and most treasured memory is the day he accepted Christ as His Savior in 1994. He was helping me with the accounting in our business. I had spoken to him about his need for Christ several times before over the past 10 years but he was not ready. But, that day would be different. As I spoke to him about God sending His only Son to die for his sins on the cross he began to weep. Even though Daddy was a ‘good’ man, by the world’s standards, he knew that he was born a sinner and needed a Savior. He asked God to forgive him of his sins and confessed Christ as Lord. From that day forward he never went back on his promise to follow Christ. Just as he had been faithful in his marriage and family relationships, he remained faithful to Christ till the end of his life.

  
  

  When Daddy was so sick in bed the last two weeks I would pray with him and he would thank the Lord for His Son Jesus. One night I sang the hymn, Great is Thy Faithfulness, softly in his ear. He was so weak by then that he could barely say a word but when I finished he whispered softly … ‘wonderful song’. I think more than anything I will miss hearing him say to me, “Your mama and I are praying for you”. Those words meant more to me than anything in this world.

  
  

  I grieve for the loss of my father’s presence here on earth but I have hope because I know our time of being separated won’t be forever. I WILL see him again and I know it won’t be long. The thought of heaven has become even more precious these past few weeks because I know that my Daddy will be waiting for me there. As I was praying for him those last few nights I whispered in his ear… “Daddy, please promise to meet me by the river!” …………Oh, I can’t wait for that day!

  • 12:26 am
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