I have quite a few stories and memories about my dad. However I remember clearly the last father-son moment I shared with my ailing dad in his finals days as he layed awake, alert and in a pretty good mood that Tuesday morning I paid him a visit. We were talking about different stuff and how he was doing etc. Eventually I brought up the bible and mentioned a story I liked (my favorite one actually told by Jesus himself). The story is from Luke 16:11, The Parable of the Lost Son.
The story is about a wealthy farmer that has 2 sons that work for him. One son was a hard working faithful son. One day the farmer's other younger son decided he wanted his share of his father's estate before he died and a few days later packed his belongings and set out on his own and settled in a far off land. He squandered all of his fathers money on wild living and quickly became broke and eventually lived a harsh poor life after a large famine swept through the area. After finding a little work with another poor farmer he was still hungry and barely making any money. One day he decided he had had enough of this way of living and realized the error of his ways. He was ready to go back home and hoped his beloved dad would some how take him back, if not as his son at least as a highered servent. So he returned home and while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, hugged him, and kissed him. His son said to him 'Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. But his father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house to put on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandles for his feet. And kill the fattest calf. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but is now found'. The older son working hard in the fields heard about his brother's return, became furious hearing about this celebration for him, and angrily approached his dad. Saying ' All these years I have slaved for you and never once refused to do anything you told me. During that time you never gave me even a goat or threw me a celebration for me and my friends. So how can you thow a celebration for this son of yours that waisted all your hard earned money on prostitutes and wild living, you celebrate by killing the fattest calf and having a feast!!' His father said to him 'My dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now is found!'
My dad clearly knew this story and retold it to me. He became choked up as did I as he got to the end of the story, and we both shed a couple of tears. Me and my dad rarely cry and had never done it in front of each other before. It felt almost as if the Holy Ghost touched both of us at that short time. It was a moment I will never forget!