Today is the twenty-fifth anniversary of my father's death. But that's really the wrong way to look at it! Twenty-five years ago on this day my father was able to see Jesus--his Lord and Savior--face to face for the first time! On that day he was reconciled with all those who--by grace and through faith--had gone before: his wife and my mother, Laura Belle; his own mother and father; his older sister, Lilly; so many of his colleagues and friends from Japan. So today is really his heavenly birthday--and I celebrate his now perfect life--made perfect by the wounded hands of Jesus and His shed blood! As an elderly woman and friend at church says of her departed husband, "With each day I'm not getting farther from him; with each day I"m twenty-four hours closer to seeing him again!" Today, I'm twenty-five years closer to seeing Dad again!

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2 (RSV)

And I marvel that we are the joy set before Jesus for which He endured the cross!!