This past Friday our family received the phone call we've waited for with heavy hearts. Richard's father, who was diagnosed three years ago with a terminal illness, was in respiratory distress. He died just minutes before Richard arrived at his house.
It was in November 2006 that we learned Richard's dad had a disease called Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, usually referred to as ALS. He fought a courageous battle to preserve his strength and independence, gifting us with far more time than we expected to have with him. He cuddled Abigail during her first weeks of life, completed a detailed family history in time for Christmas, and celebrated this Mother's Day with Richard's sister and her children. If you have ever appreciated Richard Jr.'s love for travel, biking, hiking, Tuolomne Meadows, grilled salmon, or spagatinni primavera you've seen some of what Richard Sr. passed on to him. If you have ever seen Richard Jr. remodel a house, manage a project or do anything related to Excel then you've glimpsed a little part of Richard Sr.'s genius. And if you've seen Jordan or his cousins batting, catching or pitching then you've seen yet another part of their grandpa's legacy.
In the midst of being thankful for Richard Sr.'s life, we already miss the moments we won't get to share in the coming years. And this time of grief arrived just as we set our hands to the work of increasing our neighborhood impact. Please pray for Richard, and the whole Parks family. In the words of the prayer below, ask God to help us to be gentle, walk slowly, and pause often.
Celtic Night Prayer
Be gentle with the one
who walks with grief.
If it is you,
be gentle with yourself.
Swiftly forgive,
walk slowly, pausing often...
Take time, be gentle
as you walk with grief.
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