NEVER A GOODYE



THERE WILL BE NO GOODBYE "

A man we love has gone.
Gone beyond reach, beyond sight.
Beyond our ability to touch his hand.
Or put our arm around his shoulder.
Hear his voice.
See his smile.

But we NEVER said,
" Goodbye,"
my Dad & I.

We made an appointment,
To meet on Heaven's shore.
Reservations to dine,
At the Supper of The Lamb,
Have been made in our names.
Our place mats have been set.

" I will meet you in the 'twinkling' I told him.
Laughing, he said, "Okay, I will wait."

So, on the day when Christ calls us to Himself,
We will meet, embrace, and sing!
We will REJOICE!
Forever strolling,
In God's Garden of Glory,
Together.

No, we NEVER said,
"Goodbye,"
my Dad & I.

Tomorrow the moon will tuck itself itself into the shadows.
Dawn will creep into the eastern sky.
Bringing a fresh sunrise to warm the approaching day.
Life continues on its forward march.
Pulling us along, forcing us onward.
So healing may begin its heart-wrenching process.
Softening this moment of sorrow, of loss Today.
Making it a memory of Yesterday.
While the yearning anticipation of Tomorrow,
Will take root in Eternity and grow.

' Memory,' Will become our Companion,
Comforting our hearts.
Sustaining us till his face again we see.
Memory of a gentle man gone onto his reward.
A sweet kind man many called, 'Friend.'
A man who met his responsibilities as, 'Father,'
With a generous providing spirit.
A man who knew how to love.
How to say, 'I love you,' When it was most needed.
A man who knew how to BE loved in return.

The tapestry of our lives will forever have woven
Within its fabric a ribbon of Blue.
Representing a man who touched lives,
With Honesty,
Humility,
Respect.

Every remembrance, a good remembrance.
His Legacy of Success,
Simplicity,
Creativity,
Will be repeated by those he loved.

Memories...
His way of taking a block of fresh hewn wood,
Holding it in his hands,
Bringing it his warmth, his life.
Molding it into something beautiful,
For the eye to admire.
A pencil behind his right ear.
A little tan apron around his waist.
The roar of the saw.
The scent of the glue.
Crunch of dust beneath our feet.
Will be memories to share.

In a world gone awry, he was Stability.
The 'constant' in my life as a child.
He looked beyond the 'smallness' of men and women.
Granted the benefit of the doubt.
When harm was thrust into his path,
Breaking his heart,
He spoke words of wisdom,
" We don't have to be like them."
And he forgave.

He, himself, could never understand,
The deliberate mischief men and women could display.
Because he did NOT possess such a heart.
He lived with Integrity.

My Daddy's example...
Taught me to be responsible.
To be accountable for my actions.
He said...
Only make a promise,
If a promise could be kept.
Begin a job, see it to its completion.
Do your best.
Work hard to achieve.
Pay your own way.
Owe no man.
Be grateful for what you receive,
Then take care of it.

When I would say...
" I HAVE TO...
He would always reply,
" You don't HAVE to do anything,
Cept pay taxes and die."
And, oh, yes, pay your Tithe.

Memories, my memories...
Are of the simple things and light-hearted pleasures.
Chicken-n-Dumplings, cream corn, 'little cabbages,'
Tapioca pudding, lemon drops.
Slabs of butter & jelly on white bread,
As his stomach healed. White bandages on his hands.
Missing him when he spent months in the hospital.
A pink doll bed that got left behind.
A large fuzzy bear that landed in the mud.
Miniature green diner's booth & table.

His visits to our home in the summer time.
No matter where we were in the States.
His pride in my husband, a U.S.Marine.
An even greater swelling of pride he displayed
when our son became a U.S.Marine.
Taking him all over to see the sights in D.C.
His thrill as he viewed The Sunset Parade.

His ritual of sunny-side eggs and toast.
Coffee that was just a 'little' brown.
Bologna sandwiches, sweet pickles,
A friends homemade cake always a favorite of his.

Boy Scouts shorts with his boney knees.
My first 'grown up' dress we bought together.
His hats, Western and Campaign.

How he held his first grandchild, our son.
Dancing around the room,
Holding him high and laughing.
Winning him over with caramel candy.
Then seeing my Dad ride that same little boy,
As a two year old,
Around the neighborhood on the back of a bike.
Our little girl, his first grandaughter,
snuggling on his shoulder as she fell asleep.
How proud he was to see them in their Scout Uniforms,
decorated with their achievements.

The joy in his deep blue eyes,
as he looked into the smiling face
Of his first GREAT-Grandchild.

Sharing the Lord's Supper in Church, December 2001.
Our quiet peaceful talks.
A moment of being Cherished.
A special gift from our Father in Heaven.
My memories are MANY.
And my memory is long.

Memories...
Yours...
Mine...
Some intermingled,
Some private,
Some much too sweet to share.
Memories,
Cannot be stolen,
nor altered or lose their luster.
Memories remain vibrant.
Alive, Within the hearts they are entrusted.

The very best of ALL my memories?
The most vibrant?

~ His Smile. ~

It will always be loved.
Always be remembered.
His smile could be heard
echoing in his voice over the phone.
His smile could be seen in his eyes,
when he chose to be silent.
His smile spoke volumes,
about a man who had been given
The very best life had to give.
Then sharing that best with all who knew him.

~ Robert James Rogers ~

Known as Jim, Daddy, Lil Granpa, RJ,
was a fine, big-hearted Man.
He departed this world in the same manner he lived.
With Dignity and Pride.

He will be sorely, grievously be missed.
He gave assurance,
his soul was entrusted to God's care.
He was Ready to go Home and was
anticipating meeting the one's that had gone on before.
Hoping to hold them in his arms again.

So, here in this moment of sorrow,
know, without a doubt,
He IS standing in the arms of Jesus,
At Heaven's Gate.

He is waiting, saying,
" Don't cry. Time for tears is passed.
I will stand here like I promised and
I will wait for you."

I see him waving.
Smiling that precious smile that says to me,
" We NEVER said, " Goodbye."
We ARE going to meet again
In 'the twinkling of an eye.' "

" No, we NEVER said,
' Goodbye,'
my Dad & I.

Written With Loving Memories,
~ For Daddy ~

~BY~
Roberta Rogers Wilcox
@602002