Together We Await the Day We Meet Again
We had just said we should hurry and buy a rocking chair to set by the backyard swimming pool that we had taken so much effort to restore—to bask in the sun, sip hot tea, chat, and swim with Emmanuel; such a wonderful appointment, about to come true on March 21. How could you, without a word, be stolen away by the Lord whom you love…? "Don't be anxious, don't be afraid," you said; "no problem," you also said—how could you so freely leave without even turning your head? I cried out to you loudly, and you did not respond. Were you really tired, wanting to rest well…?
My father-in-law watched me grow up from childhood; there is a three-generation bond with the Wu family, rooted in the fact that we all had a pure-hearted, the Lord-loving grandmother. During my college years, I lived with Second Aunt Xinlan (馨蘭), and with hints dropped by both families, I simply married into the Wu family and even more solidly became one family. Rather than a daughter-in-law, it felt more like being dad's daughter. Afterward, I went through dad's years of dialysis, watching him endure many side effects from taking anti-rejection medication, yet still dragging his weary, massive body, playing the life-risking role of a frequent flyer, traveling and laboring for the matters great and small of the churches around the globe. In fact, the time dad left for his family was very little; like Yu the Great taming the floods, passing his own door three times without entering was a common thing! So we always treasured the last bit of strength he had after a meeting ended—when he could stop his steps, when he could chat about everything, when he could enjoy his grandchildren, when he could enjoy the sweetest human cherishing…
The Lord gave us one last complete stretch of time. Last year, after dad had just recovered from a serious illness, he was with our family of three day and night for a whole month, plus some scattered, brief stays of companionship. That was a special period, because he could not go anywhere. Besides rehabilitation, follow-up visits, and dialysis, he also had to turn and become like a little child, practicing anew to rise, to stand, and to walk. He said these seemingly simple basic movements were actually not easy; I believe that, having gone through the calamity of serious illness, dad, full of a heart of compassion, could all the more sympathize with people's weaknesses… Thank the Lord! Dad finally, rarely, enjoyed the family happiness of three generations under one roof; he laughingly called himself one who gained blessing out of calamity. While caring for dad, I also truly touched that he was wholly consecrated, bearing his cross, in love without any fear, full of faith pressing on courageously…
I had always felt that the father in my heart, who had been through great storms and waves, would surely, under the Lord's keeping, pass through every difficulty. In the last phone call I cried out loudly, thinking this could not be real, thinking this was just another joke of dad's, that in a while it would be "no problem"… It was that we were not watchful enough; in such a brief time, the Lord took His treasure away, silently and without a sound… Thinking of where we little scattered soldiers who hid under the big umbrella would go from now on… the Lord's good pleasure is truly deep and hard to fathom. Though it is very hard to accept, yet I sincerely give thanks that our dad has rested from his labor on the earth, put off all entanglement, is no longer in sickness and pain, and is with the Lord, which is far better!
Thank you, dad, for encouraging me; the Lord knows my heart that loves Him. Thank you, dad, for always cherishing us in our humanity instead of disciplining. Thank you, dad, for the beautiful pattern and the footsteps of faith you set for us; these will all become the reason we imitate and closely follow. Dear dad, we love you! We look forward to that glorious day when we will meet again!!