Well Done

“The servant who had received five talents came and presented five more. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’” – The Gospel of Matthew 25:20-21

My Dad passed away last week and the funeral is today. I’ve got so many thoughts running through my heart and head. I’ve wanted to somehow form the words into sentences that are worthy of him and what he meant to me and so many others.

Much, maybe most, of what has been written in Cast Light over the years is rooted in my parents and how they raised us, who they are and how they live/lived. The hours of conversation, laughter and tears at the wake last night from friends, family and his co-workers through the years are testament to who he was – a quiet, humble, faithful, tough, funny, generous, brilliant and loving man with integrity through and through. Not perfect, as none of us are, but always taking his talents and creating more than he started with.

These words are only but a start of the many seeds that have been planted in my heart by him. I am sure many more will come in the days ahead as we all try to figure out how to move forward without our coach, cheerleader and best friend.

The prayer of St. Francis of Assisi is so appropriate for Dad. He adored Molly and Lily and their cousins Chloe and Grace – his grand-dogs. They would gather around him because they knew how much he loved them as we all did through his actions and his words.

“Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is error, the truth;
Where there is doubt, the faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled, as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.”
– St. Francis of Assisi

So as you enter into your beautiful and peaceful homecoming in heaven Dad, I see Jesus smiling and embracing you saying “Well done, good and faithful servant, well done. Enter into the joy of your Master.”