A tribute to my dad

Note: My Dad passed away 16 years ago on August 6, 2009, and I wrote this the very next day and shared it at his funeral. Today, I miss him more than ever, and I've decided to share this with my readers, with a few updates.

Cecil Dewey Ackerson has always been one of the most loving and kind people I have ever known, and I am proud to say he's MY DAD! Always a hard worker, a real people person–he truly cared about others more than himself. As a peace-loving man — and my brother and sisters can attest to this — he just wanted everyone to get along. (Remember all those times when we were growing up and he would come home from work and take a quick nap on the couch? We could make all the noise we wanted to as long as it was happy noises, but the moment we started to bicker and fight, he would wake up and say quietly–almost pleadingly say, "Can't you kids just get along?" Boy, nothing got our attention faster than that. He never needed to yell at us to get our attention or our respect. And because of his gentle, peaceful ways, he always had our respect.

Though this may sound contradictory, Dad was a man who also LOVED a rousing good "discussion" about anything controversial. From my earliest years, I recall him calling talk-show radio hosts and voicing his opinions. When we were in school, we could always count on Dad being our advocate. You know, when I was in grade school, my dad went to EVERY ONE of my parent/teacher conferences? And I bet I am the only girl here who had her dad tell her the facts of life! To some, Dad was a bit of a radical in his political and religious views. To me, he has been a mentor, and the older I get, the more I have come to appreciate the many strengths in my life that are rooted in my relationship with my dad.

It was a shock to us all to hear that Dad had cancer, and everything has happened so fast. There is so much to process, and I am sure it will take me a lifetime to process it all. I miss him terribly. But I could never wish him back because I know that my Daddy is in heaven. I have enjoyed picturing him in my mind's eye – I see him greeting Mom after all these years and telling her all about his life since she left this planet. I see him embracing his father and mother in lingering hugs as he tells them how much he has missed them and how happy he is to see them. And then, I try to imagine him standing face to face with his Savior. [Today, I also see him talking with Micah and Bob and so many others who have gone on since his passing.]

It's hard to imagine his reaction to all of the beauty and glory of heaven, but then who can really know what it is like until you see it for yourself? You may ask how I know my Dad is in heaven. Dad took great pains to assure me and those around him in his last days, that he indeed was trusting and believing in Jesus Christ, the one true Son of God who came to this earth to die on the cross for his–for all of our–sins; who rose again and is alive forevermore–for his salvation. He knew that his salvation was secure in Christ Jesus — that it was not his own works that saved him, but the works of Jesus.

It was because of Dad's relationship with Christ that he was a good, gentle, and loving man. And I look forward with hope and expectancy to the day when I, too, will reach the end of this life on earth and enter into eternal rest in heaven. I know one of the first things I will do is wrap my arms around my daddy's neck and give him a great big kiss on the cheek. In the meantime, I would not wish him back for anything, because now he is whole, healthy, and having the time of his life!