The Saddest Call

On Friday, August 20, 1999, exactly 20 years ago today, I was working at my job in Bowling Green, KY.

I had moved there in March to be closer to Paula, who is now my wife, and start the next chapter in my life. 

A month earlier in July, I had been home to visit my father at our family home. He was under hospice care after battling brain and lung cancer for almost a year and a half. 

About 10 o'clock that morning, I got a call from home. I picked up the phone and heard the grieving sobs of my mother. "Ronnie, He's gone" she sobbed. 

Although I had known he was in his final days hearing those words from mom was devastating. 

Trying to hold back the tears and do my best to comfort her, I assured mom that Dad was now in heaven and we would all see him again some day. 

I also assured her that I would be home to be with her and the rest of the family as soon as I could get there. 

After I hung up the phone, I tried as best as I could to have a private moment at my desk. I let out the emotion I was feeling when a song came on the radio on my desk. 

I was listening to the local country station and the song was by Collin Raye. It was about a grandson seeing his grandfather grieve at the loss of the love of his life. 

The song was so fitting for that moment it time that even 2 decades later when I hear it, I well up with grief and my heart aches again as I miss both my dad and my mom. 

Over the last 20 years I have missed my dad more times than I can count. He and my mom were "reunited" in 2003. Now they share the reward of living a life together in which they served their savior, Jesus Christ, in the best way they could.  

To this day, hearing that song makes me tear up with sadness. I miss them both very much. 

As a way of remembering both my parents today, on the 20th anniversary of the death of my dad below is the link to the video of that song.  

Love Me by Collin Raye

Thanks for taking the time to read this post and allowing me the opportunity to remember the saddest call.