Remembering my dear Daddy

 Remembering my dear Daddy, Eston Willis, who served in WWII. He went home to be with Jesus in 1989, he was born in 1919 and would have been 106 this year. He was injured in the Battle of Anzio in 1944. He always had a great love for the Italian people, he lived with them as he recovered from his injuries and he said they were so kind to him after he was injured, fighting for our freedom. Daddy received a letter from the Italian family he lived with while he was recovering from his wounds at Anzio. He took the letter to the owner of Vito’s restaurant in Lakeland. Vito translated it for him and helped him write a letter in response to the Italian family who had been so kind to him.

Sweet memories of unconditional love and wide open arms of love from my childhood. My sweet Daddy, Eston Willis, went home to be with Jesus in 1989. He was such a powerful influence in my life, he loved Jesus, his family, and sharing his faith with others. He led me to a saving faith in Jesus, I watched him prepare for his Sunday School lesson all week, and learned so much from his teaching. 

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When our son, Jason, was born in 1991, two years after Daddy went home to be with Jesus, I longed for my children to know him like I knew him. One night in 1992, I had a dream, so real, so vivid, I can remember every detail. Daddy was walking toward me, smiling his big, warm smile, but younger than I ever knew him. No glasses, no wrinkles, so alive. Then, we were sitting in a living room, he was holding Jason and rocking, and then my dream ended. But when I woke up, I was inspired. I wanted to capture memories of Daddy for my children to read. I mailed letters to everyone I could find in our friends and family network. I asked them just to write what they remembered about Daddy. I collected all those letters in a book we still have today. One letter was from Marci Clements, a friend from our church in Sebring. She commented on how much Daddy loved to sing the old gospel song, “Without Him,” as his confession of faith…”Without Him I could do nothing. Without Him I'd surely fail; Without Him, I would be drifting. Like a ship without a sail. Jesus, Oh Jesus, do you know him today? You can't turn him away, oh Jesus, oh Jesus. Without him, How lost I would be. Without Him I would be dying. Without Him I'd be enslaved;  Without Him life would be hopeless. But with Jesus, thank God, I'm saved. Jesus, Oh Jesus, do you know Him today? You can't turn him away, oh Jesus, oh Jesus. Without him, How lost I would be.”

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Oh Lord Jesus, how I thank You for my heritage of faith, for my Daddy who loved You with his whole heart, and led me to Your Cross where I received Your gift of salvation. Thank You for the encouraging Truth that Daddy taught me from Your Word, that there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Thank You for the free gift of salvation, that we are justified on the basis of Your finished work on the Cross. Thank You that, right now, we are under the completely sufficient imputed righteousness of Christ. Because we have placed our trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ, we are redeemed by Your precious blood. The threat of failure, judgment, and condemnation has been removed. Knowing that God’s love for us and approval of us will never be determined by our performance is the most encouraging promise to which we cling. We love You, Lord. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

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Look Up—meditate on Romans 8:1-3 … pray to see what it reveals about the character of God.

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Look In—as you meditate on Romans 8:1-3 … pray to see how you might apply it to your life. Be propelled to ask galvanizing questions about your discoveries: "Because God is_________, I will_____________."

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Look Out—as you meditate on Romans 8:1-3 …pray to see how you might apply it to your relationships with others. Let the nature of God impact on every relationship, for your good, and for His glory.