As Father's Day draws to a close, I was compelled to search my hard drive for an old post I wrote about my dad about seven years back. He was a great father and I miss him very much. So much of the wonders of my life were imparted by our parents. We truly grew up in a loving home. Here is a tribute to my dad, Ralph Earl Goodrich.
In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb
I remember back to my early childhood, the first time I heard my father refer to the month of March with the old adage "March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb". I remember how cool I thought it was when he explained what it meant.
I shared my father's dislike of cold weather and took great comfort in knowing that although the month would be starting out cold and blustery, it would end up leading into the warmth of springtime. Year after year, I would brave the early march winds, with the promise of gentler days ahead. I looked forward to shedding my winder coat, getting an Easter dress, playing outside more, and feeling the warmth of the sun on my back.
In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb
I shared my father's dislike of cold weather and took great comfort in knowing that although the month would be starting out cold and blustery, it would end up leading into the warmth of springtime. Year after year, I would brave the early march winds, with the promise of gentler days ahead. I looked forward to shedding my winder coat, getting an Easter dress, playing outside more, and feeling the warmth of the sun on my back.Year after year, like my father, I subscribed to one of his favorite slogans: "I'd rather sweat than shiver." I braced myself in early march, knowing that in about four weeks we'd be seeing robin red breasts and not long after that daffodils and tulips. I could tolerate the lion, knowing that the lamb was close at hand.
The lion often reminds us of noise and fear and destruction. The lamb always reminds us of tenderness and meekness and gentleness. The Bible tells us that Satan is the God of this world and that he roams about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. As born again believers, we know that Jesus in us is greater than the devil. Jesus is The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
One early March, it seemed as if the lion was in full force in our lives. My dad had suffered a stroke that winter and lie in the hospital bed unable to communicate with us. On March 15 of that year, he passed from this world. My dad was God's little lamb. He knew that The Lord was his shepherd, and I can be sure that as he passed through the valley of the shadow of death, he did not fear, for he knew that God was with him.
It was a sad time, but as a Christian, I took comfort in knowing that my dad was in Heaven. His passing on March 15 was symbolic to me and comforting as well. I knew that he was leaving the kingdom of the lion and entering into the kingdom of the lamb.