The Eighth Day of the Twelfth Month

My father’s death was like losing the championship game that we fought and trained so hard to win. We bathed each day in prayer and hope, living in the expectation that what we felt our answer to be was the same answer that God was going to give. We played hard and gave it all we had but when the final buzzer sounded we realized we lost.

At least that’s how it felt.

My daddy died on the 8th of December. It wasn’t expected because he had been doing so well. It was a peaceful Saturday morning after days and months of fighting, pleading and crying with God. But this 8h day of December changed our lives forever. It was a day we’ll never forget.

I always wondered why my dad died on that day. What was it about that day that he decided he needed to be in heaven? I never take things lightly in life because I feel there a deeper meaning and order to everything God does. God uses all things in His creation to tell us the story of himself so why chose the 8th of December? The 8th day of the 12th month in our calendar?

In Biblical numerology the number 12 is a symbol for divine government or God’s order and authority. The number 8 is symbolic of new beginnings. The year was also 2012 so the number 12 is represented again… so what does it mean?

Simply, to me, it means that God’s divine authority was represented twice on that day to show us that He was there. In the beginning and in the end of 12-8-12, God is there and in control. The number 8 is for us, his family to know that this day would be a new beginning for my dad in heaven but for also us here still left on earth. Clearly, my dad has things to do with Jesus – secret things that we don’t know of yet – and we have to continue on telling his story and living the way God wanted us to but with a new revelation of what is to come.

Personally, I’ve never wanted to know more about heaven than when my dad went there. I’ve never studied more or prayed more to understand and share with others. And maybe that’s what God wants of me for now. My family, although we’ve always been close, is even closer now and that seems to be spilling out to the rest of the family and even our friends. I’ve never in my life faced anything as hard as losing my dad and I will always feel his absence. I will always know he’s not physically here with me anymore but I instantly begin to wonder what he’s doing up there. Is he still building mansions? Is he reuniting with those we lost before him and after him? Does he have weekly meetings with Jesus and talk about us? I’m not really sure yet but one day I will.

Whatever he’s doing I know he’s strong again and he can walk without us helping him. I know he’s happy and he’s probably singing because he loved to sing. I also have a very good feeling he’s eating Figs – the only guy in Jersey who could grow figs in his backyard, and they were good! It’s a new beginning for him because he is finally where everyone wants to be. He fulfilled his destiny and now his legacy lives on in us. Our new beginning is here for a little while longer so we can do the things he couldn’t. We have families to start and ministries to unfold just like he did.

My dad always wanted better for us than he ever had and on the eighth day of the twelfth month he made sure he was in the right place to make that happened. He can watch for us and pray right to God where he is for us. We’re starting new without him but it’s in and around God’s divine authority and order as our promise that “It’s going to be ok” just like he always told us.

I’ll see you when my job here is done too Daddy… I love you always.