The Greatest Payday of All

Back in the 1950's, the famous Baptist preacher, R. G. Lee preached a sermon called "Payday Someday." It is a wonderful sermon and considered a classic. I've listened to it dozens of times over the years. This post isn't about R.G. Lee's famous sermon but it is about a Payday. 

My dad was a Knox County public school teacher. Teachers get paid once a month and dad's check always came on the 25th of the month. You cannot even imagine how excited and desperate we were on that day. We had lists of places we wanted to go and things we wanted to buy. My sister and I would sit backwards on the couch with our knees on the cushions and arms folded across the back of the couch and stare out the window waiting for the mailman to stop at our mailbox. I remember one 25th when the mailman drove right on past our house without stopping. You could have shot us all and we wouldn't have been more depressed. 

Needless to say, all of my life the 25th has been a significant day but five years ago on February 25th 2016 it became even more significant - dad received the greatest payday of his life when he closed his eyes in death here on earth and opened them in the presence of the Lord in Heaven. Now whenever the 25th rolls around I'm not excited like I once was. Now there is a sense of dread whenever I see that day on the calendar, especially this year as it marks the 5th anniversary of dad's departure. I know he is much better off now but we aren't. We now have a huge hole in our lives that can never be filled. With every single loved one that passes away that hole gets bigger and bigger. 

I sure miss my dad and would give up the rest of my years just to talk to him one more time. I hope he's somewhere in Heaven fishing or sitting on the front porch of his cabin in the wildwood. I wouldn't be surprised if him and Pam were singing together right now with Granny and Paw and other members of our family. 

Tonight as I was taking my mother out to eat for her birthday, we were discussing how many of our family members have died from cancer. I figure it will be the way I will die as well and am just waiting to see which kind it will be. I'm not afraid to die because I know where I'm going and I know I have plenty of family members and friends waiting for me, and of course the Lord Jesus will be there. I'm in no hurry to go but I know Heaven will be the greatest payday of all.