My sister Suzi wrote and read this at my Dads funeral. There will be other blogs where you learn about the other things we learned but tonight’s theme is the importance of showing up!
I’ve struggled my whole adult life to be able to describe my dad. Was he an introvert or an extrovert? Was he flexible or rigid? Was he serious or silly? Was he patient or irritable? Traditional or progressive? Diligent or reckless? The answer to all of these questions is yes. He was all of these things depending on the space and the company and his mood. I wrestled with how to remember him with you today since not all of you got to see him as we did. So, instead of trying to describe him with elusive adjectives, we decided to listen to his life. I asked my siblings and nieces and nephews to spend some time reflecting on what Papa’s life taught them about who he was and who we are. What comes next is a compilation of seven things we heard when we listened to how he chose to live.
- Show up. Show up to church when your community gathers to worship. Show up for your friends when hard things happen. Show up for your family when they perform or play in a game or celebrate a milestone and lock their keys in their car again. He loved to solve our problems. If someone he liked was stirring the pot for a just cause, he would grab a spoon, show up and stir that pot with them. He was with us, and I dare say many of you, in real and tangible ways when we needed someone just like him to show up.
- We all learned the value of showing up and now almost 6 years later, my Dad would be so proud of how we all continue to show up and delight in one another’s presence. The group of kids, young adults and adults know what it means to show up for each other.
- The video below is just a little bit of what it feels like when someone chooses to show up for you.
- I hope you have learned the importance of showing up and experienced being shown up for. Make time today, tomorrow and the next day for someone. Stop and say hello to a lonely soul or celebrate the kindness of a neighbor. Consider being present for a sibling, parent, niece or nephew. Once you start showing up, the opportunities are endless! ❤️Trish
