Remember When...

My father died on February 3rd in 1989. 

It's hard to believe it's been 23 years since I hugged him, heard his voice, and looked into his eyes.

When we are little, we think our parents are going to be around forever.  We cannot fathom life without them.

Then we grow up, our parents grow old, and eventually, the terrible days come when we have to say our earthly goodbyes. 

It's so painful that it defies description . 

When my father was dying in a hospital, I thought my heart was going to break in two. Right before he took his last breath, a tear trickled down his cheek.

Today, 23 years later, I still miss him.  Sometimes,  when driving down a familiar street in my hometown ,  a car will pass and I'll  think it's him behind the wheel.

You know how some people have look-alikes?  Of course, it's never him. My father departed from this earthly life so long ago.

Last week in church, the same church my father attended, a man across the aisle also looked like my Dad and I felt the familiar ache in my heart.

My father shared his fascination with hummingbirds with me when I was just a child. He'd tell me to come quick and look at the hummer on the porch or in the garden.  He was always amazed at how fast the wings of those little creatures moved.

Since my father's death, the sight of a hummingbird makes me immediately think of him. Maybe his spirit is now with those darling little birds.

Just the other day, I took a photograph of a piece of stained glass that has hung in my upstairs office for eight years now.  It's shown at the top of this post.

Right between the pink roses is a white, guess what?  A hummingbird! 

WHAT SIGN, IF ANY, MAKES YOU THINK OF YOUR PARENT?