The Most Amazing Man I know
I never thought as a child that anything bad could happen to my Dad. As a child I thought my hero would live forever. As a child you know you are safe while being held in your Daddy’s arms. Is it selfish to think that way? Some children in this world never know what it is like to even have a Father. Some children lose their parents at a young age and can understand the pain early on, but today for me I am 33 and I am waiting to find out if my best friend, my hero, my Father is going to die of cancer and my heart is aching in a way that I have never felt before.
My Dad is famous for always quoting the following:
Love is patient. Love is kind. Love is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way. It is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. LOVE BEARS ALL THINGS, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.
1 Corinthians 13: 4-8
My Fathers love for life will never fail. It will never end. Whatever the outcome of all this is I know one thing for certain at this very moment… He has already found his peace. He has always known all of the things God meant for him to understand about his life and he will be OK no matter where this road leads him. My Father knows that God is with him and has always been with him. My Father is perfect in my eyes and has always been perfection in Gods. God made him exactly the way he wanted him. My Father is a man of love. His light shines so bright. His energy is so strong that I can feel him from miles and miles away. He is my Angel. He is my hero and he is the most amazing man I have ever known.
On June 15, 2004 I wrote him a letter for Fathers Day. I found it a couple of weeks ago going through some of Mom and Dads old pictures. This is what I wrote to him:
Fathers day is a day when I get to tell you how important you are, but I think you already know how important you are to all of us. Every morning I wake up and think of you. I tell God every morning that he blessed me with an angel. You are so special. You always have the right things to say, you always know how to keep the peace, you know how to teach us all to have peace and I am so proud to have you as my Daddy.
Now that I have a little girl of my own I know how hard it is to be a parent. It is the toughest job I have ever had. It is an important job. I have to be responsible for her life. I have to teach her to be a good person. I have to teach her to love herself no matter what the world may do to her. I am so fortunate that I can pass along the skills to live life the way God wants us to and I have you to thank for that. You gave me a freedom to think for myself. You taught me to always be proud of who I am and to believe in the choices I make for myself. You gave me such wonderful gifts. You gave me Dink and you know why you gave me Dink? I watch you love my mother unconditionally. When it was time to choose someone for myself I found someone who loves me the way you love my mother. This journey hasn’t been easy and I have made mistakes, but when I reached into my soul for what I knew was right I finally looked to your guidance and found the one person I feel I will grow old with. Thanks Daddy.
You may not believe that you are a real Angel and I am not sure why you wouldn’t believe it yourself. Maybe you don’t want to seem self absorbed, but Dad…you and I both know you are an Angel. How many people in this world can be so close to perfection? How many of us can stand true to our faiths? How many of us can be so kind as often as you are? Angels are real. You have been brought to this world so many times that you have finally got it right on this trip. To me you have been an Indian, a brown man, a Jew, a woman, you have been so many things that you finally understand what our point on this earth is.
I just want to end this with something you once sent me not long ago. "remember, you are being moved through the journey of life by a power you can not see. Your destination is greatness beyond your comprehension. Your purpose must be your passion for life. And peace is your resting place at the end of the day".
I love you Dad.
Mindy,
I was telling Bonnie after we found out yesterday that while we have only known your family for a couple of years and although I have only spent time on 2 or 3 occasions with your dad, He IS my BEST friend! I realized that as I was driving home from work yesterday. Most people would say that it is weird that someone you have known for such a short time and only spent time face to face on a few occasions and some one that you don’t talk to on the phone on a regular basis can be a BEST Friend but HE IS! I love your family like they are my own. The reason is I believe because we are related by a thread that can never be broken even as we or our loved ones leave this place to move on to the next.
Keep us up to date
Peace & Love
Geo
Dear Mindy
This does not sound good. What has happened? I love sharing in Cliff’s life through this blog. I have learnt so much from his gentle, thoughtful wisdom.
Please give him my love. And all my love to you and your family.
You are in my thoughts and prayers whatever is happening at this traumatic time.
Love from
Julia
Beautiful post, Mindy. I agree wholeheartedly with everything you said. And I can tell you, without hesitation, that you Dad is one of the most important people in my life. He is truly the salt of the earth, and I have no doubt that the world is a far better place because of him! He is a dear soul.
Cliff, you are on my mind continuously. Have no fear, my brother. But, if some does creep in here and there, know that Power of Life has you firmly in its grips, and no harm can come to you… ever.
I love you, brother!
It is alarming to read this, as the word “cancer” is always a scarey thing, especially when used in connection with someone you care about. When possible and appropriate, please inform us more fully about the situation with Cliff. In the meantime, he will be in my heart and prayers. Thanks!
Here is an update. Cliff is having an MRI as we speak right now. He is also having a CT Scan. The MRI will scan his brain to see if the cancer has spread any furthur. (He currently has 2 masses on the right side of his brain. The masses are putting pressure on his brain and causing nausea, slurred speech and strong headaches.) The CT Scan will look for other cancers in his body. IF the cancer is located only in his brain, we’ll be going to Indpls for brain surgury. IF there is cancer in other spots of his body, the doctors here will decide what sort of treatment is next. We all need your prayers during the VERY difficult time. We should have some sort of news by this afternoon.
We are praying for Cliff, and for you Mindy. And for your family.
The CT Scan showed no other masses in his body. The MRI showed that the masses in his brain are getting larger. Cliff will be transported to IU Med Center by ambulance this afternoon. He will have brain surgery later this afternoon/evening.
Cliff, I have never met you, but I feel a great love for you. You have opened your heart on these pages and laid it bare for all to see. Hang in there mate – his banner over you is love
Cliff and Family
You are in our thoughts and prayers this evening.
Love you!
Peace
Geo
Cliff, my brother. My heart aches at this news.
Thanks for the update, Bridget. Cliff continues to be in my prayers. He is my cousin (his dad and my dad were brothers), and though I haven’t seen him in several years, it has been a delight to renew our acquaintance through this blog. I would like to have an adddress to be able to send him a card if that is possible. All of you are in my prayers. Sincerely with love, Connie Hazelbaker Lard
Thanks for keeping us posted. My mind seldom wanders from thinking positive thoughts about Cliff and his situation. I pray for all of you too, that you will continue with strength and courage.
Please let us know what’s next.
Bruce
We are here at the IU Medical Center. They have Dad in the ICU. We still do not know much more then we did when were at Reid Memorial in Richmond, but we are keeping as positive as possible. Dad is really sick. He hasn’t said much about any of this, but mostly because he is so tired, sick and has really bad headaches. We will hopefully know more tomorrow.
Thank you, Mindy. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Julia
Denise and I will keep you guys in our thoughts and prayers.
I’ll definitely pray for all of ya’ll. hugs. Mindy, I truly want to thank your dad for his wonderful writings. I was going through a tough time myself when I first came across this blog and it has really made a difference in my life. Even though I’ve never met Cliff in person he’s an amazing man and you’re lucky to have had him for a father.
Cliff & Mindy- My heart aches with this news. At the same time, I know Cliff’s heart. I know he is ready for whatever comes. My heart goes out to you and all your family.
Our hearts are with you all. Get home soon Cliff! Thank you for keeping us posted and, as always, your gift with words.
With love,
Jim, Amy, Mady & Katelyn Thompson
Mindy,
Although it’s been a long time seen we’ve last seen each other, I wanted to send you and your whole family my love!!! I remember times with your family way back when and cherish those memories now. Please tell your Dad that he will be on all of the prayer chains I know of in North Carolina and that he is living such an awesome testimony to non-believers. I wish all of us as believers could be so confident in our faith, especially during such trying times. Please know that if you need prayer specific don’t hesitate to ask, as I know sometimes the Lord requires that of us. I will also pray that he will have no pain and will be able to continue to bring people to know the Lord through his suffering. What an awesome testimony he is to all of us!
All my Love!
Shanon
Dear, Dear Cliff,
You have touched the hearts of so many people, including my own. What a legacy of love you will leave here in a world so lacking. You have an outstanding family and your wife is pretty darn special herself, in which I know you already know. I will continue to remember you in my prayers and I thank you for being a shining light to all those around you. May you feel God’s arms wrapped around you at this time just as you always have. I hope you get to come home soon and have that quiet time you so long for with your family and Nancy.
Peace, Love and Comfort to you and yours,
Angie
To the family…
Although I do not know you I just read your blog and my prayers are with you all. We lost our father on Feb 6, 2009. He was a great man, and our best friend. The last dated post on this site was March 31, so I am not sure how he may be doing. I know one thing it is simple. His faith is not in question whether here or in heaven he is with the lord and in many prayers. Please just stand together through this tough time as we all heal differently. Sometimes we need our space and a hug at the same time so just keep ur hearts together. My family and I feel your pain. May god bless u all…..