Today I Choose . . .

Six and one-half weeks ago
we drove to Utah in the middle of the night,

as you like to say, "to save you".

I have long lost count of how many times

I went to sleep with a prayer on my lips,

fearing you would leave in the stillness of the night...

questioning why a God so Great

would allow a man so good

to suffer.

It was not long before I realized

that your suffering was for US...

for all around you to change,

to CHOOSE to live better.

As stone hearts around you broke open

and wept in the night for your pain,

as all things faded into background

and only LOVE existed,

as self became selfless

and longed only to serve,

you began to come back to us.

Today you and Mommy went home.

I shamefully I confess my lack of faith,

for in the beginning I feared

you never would go home.

Not your earthly home.

How many times have you told me

that you could never thank me enough...

But Daddy, there was no burden.

It was all blessing.

I was living on

Holy Ground.

It is quiet here on "Walton Mountain" now...

I had to call you on the phone last night

for our ritual of "goodnights".

In four weeks you will be

88-years-old...

you will celebrate in your own house

that you and Mommy built.

I know that you and Mommy

will one day be called to your

Eternal Home,

but that will be in God's time...

I will not forget the lessons learned

through your suffering.

I PROMISE, Daddy.

Today I CHOOSE

to live life better.

One more thing, Daddy, that you

are right about...

Your Beloved IS

the most beautiful woman alive.