Bruce Patrick Farley October 23rd 1949 – October 7th, 2007
My dad won the earthly battle, and was taken to heaven at 9:48 am on October 7th, 2007. We like to think that he didn't want to be late for church at 10:00 am. He simply stopped breathing. All three of us kids were there with my mom. We are so thankful he is done fighting and free of the sins of this earth.
My dad was loved beyond human love, and he spread that love through his words and actions. His faith overflowed and touched and changed many lives. He will be missed immensely. I am very sad and relieved of his death. He fought a long 2 year battle with brain cancer (it was called "glioblastoma" if anyone wants to look it up). He did not complain. He still found the best in life even when he didn't have the strength to get out of bed. He taught me more about suffering and faith in these last two years than I have learned in all of my 25 years. His unconditional love for us three kids and my mom radiated each day and I only hope Nick and I can set the same example and give the same love as he did for us.
I am not angry or resentful towards God for anything. My dad has gone to a place with no evil and no sin. I think it is easy to be angry and not accept that this is part of a greater plan simply because it was not part of my own plan. So far in my life God plan has always been better than mine, so I have to trust that this is the same. God doesn't make mistakes. I would like to think that I am going to show my love for my dad, not in how I grieve or how long I grieve, but how I live my life from here on out. I know that what he wanted because that is what he taught us.
Mourning is how God wants us to deal with the death of our loved ones. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted," (Matthew 5:4). The Lord definitely knows our grief: He wept when as He saw those weeping over the loss of a loved one - John 11:33-35. Pain is in this earth, how else would be see the blessings. Mourning is O.K. Crying is O.K. Life was a gift and meant to be celebrated, and that is how I will mourn my dad, I will celebrate his life and put to use what he taught me. That doesn't mean I don't cry and I don't miss him, because I definitely do. But I am not going to stop talking about him and I will pass on what I have learned to my children and those I come in contact with. This will not be easy. I will probably fall many times, but falling off my bike didn't keep me from learning to ride.
I hope this letter finds all of you well, and I thank everyone who has had my dad and family in their prayers. I know the Lord has heard them all. It is the start of a new life for all of us, one without my dad. It won't be easy, every day will be a new struggle, but God has put wonderful friends and family in our life and I know I won't go through anything alone. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. May God Bless your walk.
Only with His Strength,
Jessi
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