...the first time i ever saw ricky, we didn't actually meet. i was at the ball field to watch the church softball team play. i was so annoyed at this guy sitting three rows back on the bleachers...i tell my friend, "oh my gosh, he's so obnoxious!" but he tells his friend, "see that girl right there? 'one day' i am going to marry her."
...and "one day" he did.
he recalls growing up with people, friends, loved ones telling him, "one day, you're going to end up in prison or dead." he says, "statistically, i should....but one day i met Jesus. no longer do i live according to man's statistics, now i live according to God's plan."
one day he became a pastor. he loved telling people he was a pastor; partially because he loved being a pastor, but mostly because he loved to see the shock on people's faces who knew him before...they'd say, "i never thought i'd see 'this day'!"
he loved to preach. people would always say, "'one day' you're going to preach to the masses!" this frustrated him, "why 'one day'?! why not 'today'?!"
one day he baptized our oldest daughter. another day he baptized the other.
one day he was up. one day he was down....always up, then back down.
many days...he was broken, fallen, weak, sorry, sick, recovering, reckless, determined, bold, angry and always fighting his way back.
never a day...that he didn't tell his girls he loved them. never a day that he wasn't forgiven, wasn't funny, lost hope or wasn't loved.
today...he knows. today he is healed. today he is with his dad and his Dad. today is forever.
if you know what he knew, if you know his heart's story, if you listened at all...you will see him, laugh with him, love him again....
one day...
...and "one day" he did.
he recalls growing up with people, friends, loved ones telling him, "one day, you're going to end up in prison or dead." he says, "statistically, i should....but one day i met Jesus. no longer do i live according to man's statistics, now i live according to God's plan."
one day he became a pastor. he loved telling people he was a pastor; partially because he loved being a pastor, but mostly because he loved to see the shock on people's faces who knew him before...they'd say, "i never thought i'd see 'this day'!"
he loved to preach. people would always say, "'one day' you're going to preach to the masses!" this frustrated him, "why 'one day'?! why not 'today'?!"
one day he baptized our oldest daughter. another day he baptized the other.
one day he was up. one day he was down....always up, then back down.
many days...he was broken, fallen, weak, sorry, sick, recovering, reckless, determined, bold, angry and always fighting his way back.
never a day...that he didn't tell his girls he loved them. never a day that he wasn't forgiven, wasn't funny, lost hope or wasn't loved.
today...he knows. today he is healed. today he is with his dad and his Dad. today is forever.
if you know what he knew, if you know his heart's story, if you listened at all...you will see him, laugh with him, love him again....
one day...
7 comments:
What a wonderful tribute...God bless you and the girls!
Absolutely beautiful!
Linda, this is just beautiful.
thank you for writing this....i looked so foward to that "one day"
Linda, this is beautiful. My heart goes out to You, Nikki and Hope.
Dear Linda,
Today I heard about all for the first time; even though I have been wondering about the father of your beautiful girls....
At this moment, tears streaming down my cheeks.... Just let me say: "Today, we celebrate his life, a life to be remembered, a life God has received....
Love you Linda, Nikki, Hope!!
Liping
Linda, my prayers are with you and the girls. I loved this blog, it is perfectly you and perfectly him. Let me know if I can help in any way.
The Front Row Guy
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