EULOGY FOR MY FATHER

[With a bit of encouragement from my wife, I decided to post my eulogy for my dad. I titled it now.]

In the final hour of my dad’s time on this side of heaven, I asked God, what do you want me to say or pray? God gave me Psalm 23. I later found out my sister had the same inclination and that my mom reads Psalm 23 every day. I read Psalm 23 out loud by my dad’s bed, hoping that he would hear what was being read and thus be comforted. As I read a few times (in Korean and English in different translations), the Message version stood out to me. I’d like to share this morning what I meditated and prayed as a result. 

God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. (v. 1-3)

God has been my dad’s shepherd both seen and unseen, recognized and unrecognized. My dad does not need a thing now. The word need is no longer necessary or germane to where he is. My dad loved being outdoors, road trips, camping with family, hiking, and fishing. He especially enjoyed going to National Parks. As a result, camping was part of my happy life and eventually became my own DNA, and I have tried to instill the same in my own family. My children now love being outdoors, which is a direct tribute to my dad. He would love lush meadows, quiet pools to play in and drink from. Talk about his love language! He does not have to gasp for air now. And God has sent him in the right direction—being with Him forever. 

Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I’m not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure. You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing. (v. 4-5)

My dad traversed life’s ultimate Death Valley. He is now no longer afraid because the Good Shepherd is by my dad’s side and He makes my dad feel secure. Fear melts like wax in the presence of the Good Shepherd. My dad was hyper-conscious of security which he faithfully provided to his family. Nothing escaped his mind in terms of details, although his detail mindedness drove me nuts from time to time.

Several years ago, my dad shared with me his broken dream with tears in his eyes. His dream in life was to become a doctor and help people in need. He had to forsake his dream in place of providing for his extended family when he was only 18 years of age (when his father passed away) as he was the oldest son in the family. Knowing my dad, he would have been a great doctor. As my dad faithfully provided for his extended family and our needs, he now is being served a six-course dinner right in front of his ultimate enemy (which is death) and his head is now completely revived and his life (which we are celebrating now) is brimming with blessings. 

Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I’m back home in the house of God for the rest of my life. (v. 6)

I told my dad that I loved him and that he was my hero. He is my hero not because he was a perfect human being and father but in spite of his imperfections, he modeled what it meant to put family first and to love with the best of his ability. Generosity and responsibility are the hallmarks of his character. I now realize albeit faintly that God’s beauty and love chased after him every day of his life. He lived a beautiful life! And that he is now back home in the house of God for the rest of his “life.”