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The Final Prayer. \/ On the Death of Jack Dillard. \/ My Grandfather.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve been hesitant to write about it.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sometimes words just can\u2019t capture the totality of loss.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
The tumult of disagreement never destroyed our relationship.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Throughout it all, we spoke as often as we could.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Though often imperfect, I never doubted his love.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the end, I was afforded one last visit.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
This was our final prayer.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
God<\/p>\n
We come to you<\/p>\n
We are doubtful<\/p>\n
Death is near<\/p>\n
We need you<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Break into our lives<\/p>\n
Silence any distractions<\/p>\n
Take over this very moment<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
God<\/p>\n
We come to you<\/p>\n
We are scared<\/p>\n
Death is near<\/p>\n
We need you<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
God break into our lives<\/p>\n
God silence any distractions<\/p>\n
God take over this very moment<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
God<\/p>\n
We come to you<\/p>\n
We are hardened<\/p>\n
Death is near<\/p>\n
We need you<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
God fill us with your faith<\/p>\n
God fill us with your hope<\/p>\n
God fill us with your love<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
There is salvation in faith<\/p>\n
There is salvation in hope<\/p>\n
There is salvation in love<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Do you believe in faith?<\/p>\n
Do you believe in hope?<\/p>\n
Do you believe in love?<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Yes.<\/p>\n
We believe in faith.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Yes.<\/p>\n
We believe in hope.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Yes.<\/p>\n
We believe in love.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
God<\/p>\n
Hear us<\/p>\n
Right Now<\/p>\n
Hear us<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Through the affirmation of faith<\/p>\n
Through the affirmation of hope<\/p>\n
Through the affirmation of love<\/p>\n
There is salvation.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Do you believe?<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Yes.<\/p>\n
We believe.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Upon your confession of belief\u2026<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
I declare you to be full of faith.<\/p>\n
I declare you to be full of hope.<\/p>\n
I declare you to be full of love.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
From this moment forth\u2026<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Let there be no doubt<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
God is your faith.<\/p>\n
God is your hope.<\/p>\n
God is your love.<\/p>\n
God is yours.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
The world didn\u2019t give it.<\/p>\n
The world can\u2019t take it away.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
God is all that you have needed.<\/p>\n
God is all that you need.<\/p>\n
God is all that you will ever need.<\/p>\n
God is all.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
The mystery is in the magic.<\/p>\n
The magic is in the mystery.<\/p>\n
You don\u2019t have to understand.<\/p>\n
Just go.<\/p>\n
Eternity is yours.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
I love you.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Amen.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
I kissed him gently on his forehead\u2026and told him that I\u2019d see him again soon.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Driving away, I wished that I could stay there forever\u2026but life doesn\u2019t work that way.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Now, I\u2019m left with the hope of resurrection\u2026and that is enough.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Amen.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Final Prayer. \/ On the Death of Jack Dillard. \/ My Grandfather. \u00a0 I\u2019ve been hesitant to write about it. \u00a0 Sometimes words just can\u2019t capture the totality of loss. \u00a0 The tumult of disagreement never destroyed our relationship. \u00a0 Throughout it all, we spoke as often as we could. \u00a0 Though often imperfect, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2509,"featured_media":8112,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,10],"tags":[5742,5745,1360,4820,5736,1486,5724,1962,4811,5730,5733,4799,2479,4823,5727,5739],"class_list":["post-8109","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-freshwritings","category-thoughts","tag-clayton-county","tag-cornelia","tag-georgia","tag-gladys-dillard","tag-grandaddy","tag-hall-county","tag-jack-dillard","tag-lake-lanier","tag-madeleine-gladys-joy-davis-dillard","tag-metro-carbonation","tag-molly","tag-nonie","tag-north-carolina","tag-rex","tag-sylva","tag-white-county"],"yoast_head":"\n