A Good Life

Phil and his dad at Gene's, a summertime tradition.

Phil’s dad passed away today.

 He was in the hospital about a month, his lungs failing.  We got to visit with him when we came back from Canada, and we are thankful for the time we got to spend with him.

Will called him a few nights ago and Grandpa said in his booming voice, “I find myself in the most peculiar situation.  They tell me I’m dying, but I can’t believe it’s true.”  He was such a character.

Roger Kiper was a carpenter all his life.  He was highly skilled and could finish stairs beautifully and hang doors to perfection.  He was a faithful husband to Dorothy for over 60 years.  He was a good father to his two boys: he provided them with a good life, and trained them in the ways of the Lord.  He has a whole slew of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and he enjoyed them all very much.  He used to say often, “I have such a wonderful family.”

As I spoke at camp this summer I often referenced the movie Big Fish.  The final scene of the movie is the father’s death (the story version of it).  You can watch it here.

Phil’s dad experienced the characters of his life all coming by to see him over the last week or so.  Family and friends have been there to pay their respects. And as the movie says…

“And the strange thing is there’s not a sad face to be found.   Everyone is just so glad to see you and send you off right.”

We feel that way because we know he had great faith in his Savior Jesus Christ.  We can let him go with joy because of the great hope we have in Christ.

Like the father in the movie, he’s left us with a million stories…all of his were true.  And though in life we were sometimes tired of them, in death, they are his legacy to us… stories we will share with each other and pass on in our own ways to our friends and family.  Stories we are thankful to have in our hearts today.