by GERTRUDE MADUEKE
(SPRING, TX U.S.A)
DAD AS YOU PASSED ON TO JOIN THE LORD, I GRIEF FOR YOUR ABSCENCE, BECAUSE IT HAS CREATED A VACUUM THAT IS IRREPLACEABLE. I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THE PRINCIPLE THAT YOU SET FOR US YOUR CHILDREN---TO PUT GOD FIRST IN EVERYTHING WE DO. TO SET A POSITIVE GOAL FOR OURSELF AND STOP AT NOTHING UNTIL IT IS ACHIEVED.
I STILL CAN HEAR YOU SAY DREAM IT AND YOU CAN ACHIEVE IT. YOUR EVERY WORD OF ADVICE HAS MADE ME STAND RIGHT--- IAM A NURSE TODAY THANKS TO YOUR WISDOM AND FATHERLY LOVE.
I STILL REMEMBER THAT DAY LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY WHEN YOU CALLED ME TO THE LIVING ROOM AND WISELY CONVIENCED ME TO BE A NURSE AND IN SO DOING HAVE GIVING ME A GIFT OF A LIFETIME.
I ADMIRE YOU DAD BECAUSE OF THE KIND OF FATHER YOU WERE TO US YOUR CHILDREN--TWO SONS AND SIX DAUGHTERS--YES YOU LOVED US--VERY MUCH.--GRACIOUSLY YOU PUT ALL OF US THROUGH COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY AT A TIME WHEN IN SOME PEOPLE MIND IT IS A WASTE OF RESOURCE TO SEND A FEMALE CHILD TO COLLEGE NOT TO TALK OF UNIVERSITY---AND FOR THAT ITHANK AND ADMIRE YOU.
DAD YOU INSTIL IN US A CORE VALUE SYSTEM THAT DEFINED WHO YOU WERE--- A MAN OF INTERGRITY, WHO KEPT PROMISES AND WHO HONOR COMMITTMENT.
DURING MY LAST VISIT, YOUR ONLY CONCERN WAS FOR CHILDREN'S WELL BEING MOSTLY YOUR FIRST SON AND NOT YOUR OWN IMPENDING MORTALITY.--- I CAN STILL HEAR YOU SAY TO ME AND MY SISTERS--PLEASE BE EACH OTHER'S KEEPER AND LIVE IN PEACE--DON'T FORGET YOUR BROTHER.
DAD AM GLAD YOU CAME TO VISIT ME WHEN YOU DID BECAUSE THAT GAVE MY CHILDREN THE OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW YOU VERY WELL AND THEY LOVE YOU DEARLY.
DADDY I NEVER KNEW MY LAST VISIT IN OCTOBER WILL BE THE LAST TIME I WILL SEE YOU.--I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE LAST DAYS I HAD WITH YOU, TAKLING AND REMEMBERING ALL THE GOODTIMES.--JUST BEING WITH YOU AND HOLDING YOUR HAND.
IT IS SAD THAT YOU ARE CALLED HOME SOONER THAN WE HOPEDFOR BUT GOD KNOWS BEST.
AM SORRY DADDY I WAS NOT THERE WHEN YOU TOOK YOUR LAST BREATH, SO I COULD HOLD AND COMFORT YOU..
I WILL MISS THE ECHO OF YOUR LAUGHTER AND THE ALSO YOUR STROKING OF YOUR HEAD, WHICH I HAVE COME TO UNDERSTAND AS YOUR "AM NOT CONVIENCED".
REST IN PEACE DAD. YOU WILL BE GREATLY MISSED, BUT THE GOOD LIFE YOU LIVED WILL CONTINUE TO BE A SOURCE OF ENCOURAGEMENT FOR US.
I WILL MISS YOU MY GUIDING LIGHT--- ADIEU PAPA.