“‘“The Lord bless you
Number 6:24-26
and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”’
Okay, friends, this is just the initial post in what may end up as a sequence of thoughts reflecting on the long, good, faithful life of my father, David Maul.
It is unusual to have the privilege of knowing someone for sixty-six and a half years, but that is what can happen when your dad lives to be 94.
Dad passed away, peacefully, at 10:50 Monday morning. And he was, as my mother said, “More than ready to go home.” He had been slipping in and out of awareness since Thursday, and had been under the care of hospice since Saturday afternoon.
So Monday morning, having taken my mum back home for a rest, I told Rebekah I was pretty much sure he would slip away some time during the day.
So she came out to his assisted living home with me. We talked to him, we gave him reassurances, and we played a few of his favorite hymns. The last one he heard was from a London Emmanuel Choir anthology, circa 1970. The hymn was recorded at the Royal Albert Hall, and dad’s voice is in there among the tenors: “Wonderful Worlds of Life”:
Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life,
Let me more of their beauty see, wonderful words of life;
Words of life and beauty, teach me faith and duty.Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life,
Philip Bliss, 1874
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.
We noticed dad’s breathing become more shallow, more labored, with extended time between each halting breath. We were both holding his hand when Rebekah leaned in towards him: “The Lord bless you and keep you,” she said; “the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.”
And in that moment, dad slipped away, gently and peacefully; carried seamlessly, so it appeared, resting in those wonderful words of life. Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.
I was really composed until I took mum in there to see dad. She bent down to kiss him, gently, on the forehead. Then she asked me to pray. “Thank you, Lord,” I said in a broken whisper, “for the gift that was dad’s long and beautiful life. Please bless him with your peace and your presence and your assurance that all is well; bless him with your grace and your light and your mercy and your love, now and forever – Amen.”
That’s all I have for today. Stay tuned. In love, and because love conquers all – DEREK
Please know we are truly sorry for the passing of your Father. You and your family will be in our thoughts and prayers. May you continue to have the peace that passes all understanding.
Derek, I grieve your loss of your amazing dad, but celebrate his entry into life eternal and joy abounding. May God’s grace surround you and Rebekah and strengthen you both, allowing you honest grief that heals and restores. You have shared wonderful thoughts, photos, and reflections of your father; thank you for sharing his life story with us. Blessings to you, my friend. Hugh
Dear Derek, I know you will miss your dad. Rebekah said it best – he received the gift of a long, beautiful life. That was a blessing for all of you. Well done, David Maul!!! I do offer your Mum my deepest sympathy for losing her husband. Prayers of comfort and peace for the entire family. I pray that your dad has already reunited with Geoff. I, too, have enjoyed the tidbits you have shared about your loving family. I shed tears when I learned the news about your dad’s passing. What a wonderful role model you had. My own father passed in February at 94 yrs 10 mos 12 days. Sadly Dad spent the past 44 years rejecting me & pushing me away. There were no more tears to shed for him. I forgave him a long time ago. Be gentle with yourself and give your mum an extra hug. She’s going to need it.
Wow. Thanks for sharing. Your dad missed out by pushing you away. Your grace is a beautiful testimony. Peace
That intersection of grief and hope is an intense place to be! I’m saying a prayer for you all right now. In Jesus he will rest in peace and rise in glory…
Prayers for your loss and thanksgiving for your gift to all your followers, showing us how grief can be experienced.
My deepest condolences to you and your family. May God wrap his loving arms around you all.
So many beautiful things have been said. I could never equal them. Your family has been blessed and will continue to be blessed with the memories of a life well lived. Prayers for all of you.
Derek, as you miss your father, may the God of all comfort, comfort you. What a peaceful passing into Heaven. May the grace of God, surround you with his love as you and your family grieve.
Dear Derek, I am sorry to hear the news. I pray for your mom, you, Rebekah and the rest of the family. May God bless you with his loving grace and comfort as you celebrate your dad’s long and beautiful life. Andre
Thank you for sharing your Dad’s life with us who have never met him. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the family. So many memories captured by you in pictures and words. Take good care,
Hey Derek, I’ve been away for a while, and just saw this post. I’m glad you had so much time with your father. I pray for comfort for you and your family during this time. May you cherish the memories in the good times and may God wrap His arms around you in the more difficult ones. Blessings!
Thank you! And I pray you have an amazing Christmas! 🙏🙏