foodisfun
Active member
I was going to post in the other thread but I figured it was worth making a new one. I know I said I was going to PM each person individually and thank them for keeping my family in their thoughts and prayers, but I didn't realize how many people had actually posted, and it would just take me too long to get to everyone. So instead I figured I'd do it here.
I'd like to thank the entire Newschoolers.com community for their prayers and support for my family during this tough time. The support you have given, along with friends, family, co-workers, our extended community, and everyone else, has helped me and my family get through this struggle.
The man who killed my father may have taken away his physical body, but he can never take away my dads spirit and prescence in our life. I really believe he was with us the whole time from the funeral home, our own home, the church, and the cemetary. We could all feel him with us, although no one could see him. I thank you and everyone else for the prayers you have said, and I strongly beleive it is that which made his prescence felt.
My dad, the most gentle, kind, strong, loving, hard-working, family man I have ever met. Killed by a single bullet. Over the past few days I had constantly asked to myself and to God, "Why did my dad die?" Well at the Mass yesterday the Priest told us that instead of asking why my dad died, we should be asking ,"Why did my dad live." The Priest then explained just a few of the many reasons why my dad lived. He lived to be a son, a brother, a nephew, an uncle, a husband, a father, a teacher, a friend. Although the reason for his death is still unbelievable and unclear, we must focus on what we know, and that is to ask why my dad lived.
After someone unexpectedly dies, eveyone always says how they have to "live for the moment", or "live like they're dying." Although it is important to live like this because you never know when you could pass away, we often forget about the most important thing. That is to stop and take time to tell those around us that we love them. Three simple words, "I love you," can make such an impact on someone's daily life. Think about the last time you said "I love you," to your parents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, whoever it may be. Unfortunately for me and my family the most recent time we told my dad we loved him, was the last time.
Standing by my fathers bedside as he was strugling to survive, I just couldn't look at him. Here, this man who had never shown weakness or pain, lying helplessly bleeding in a hospital bed. All because of one bullet. One senseless act. Standing there with my family I couldn't move or do anything. The only words that were able to come out of my mouth were, "I love you." The nurses and doctors told us that the last sense a person usually has before they die is their hearing, so we cold still talk to our dad and say what we wanted. Still, the only words I could say were, "I love you dad."
Words can't describe the pain I felt seeing my dad last friday night. I kept looking at the clock seeing 1 a.m., 2 a.m., 3 a.m., waiting to wake up from this bad dream. That really can't be my dad there, this is just a movie or something. The word death being used with my dad just doesn't fit, this isn't true. The newspapers can't be telling the truth, they say that Todd Upton was shot and killed, but he's my dad. I still have yet to accept what has happened and I doubt I will anytime soon. This is the type of thing you see happening to gang members and drug dealers, not the most gentle and loving man. Not my dad.
If you can take anything out of my situation, I really just hope you understand how short life can be. Live your life to the fullest everyday, but don't forget the power of the word "Love."
Right now, drop whatever you're doing and tell someone around you that you love them. Whether it be a parent, sibling, realative, friend or whoever, tell them with sincerity that you love them. Forget about your differences you might be having with your parents, and just tell them you love them. It will make a difference in all of your lives.
I'd like to thank the entire Newschoolers.com community for their prayers and support for my family during this tough time. The support you have given, along with friends, family, co-workers, our extended community, and everyone else, has helped me and my family get through this struggle.
The man who killed my father may have taken away his physical body, but he can never take away my dads spirit and prescence in our life. I really believe he was with us the whole time from the funeral home, our own home, the church, and the cemetary. We could all feel him with us, although no one could see him. I thank you and everyone else for the prayers you have said, and I strongly beleive it is that which made his prescence felt.
My dad, the most gentle, kind, strong, loving, hard-working, family man I have ever met. Killed by a single bullet. Over the past few days I had constantly asked to myself and to God, "Why did my dad die?" Well at the Mass yesterday the Priest told us that instead of asking why my dad died, we should be asking ,"Why did my dad live." The Priest then explained just a few of the many reasons why my dad lived. He lived to be a son, a brother, a nephew, an uncle, a husband, a father, a teacher, a friend. Although the reason for his death is still unbelievable and unclear, we must focus on what we know, and that is to ask why my dad lived.
After someone unexpectedly dies, eveyone always says how they have to "live for the moment", or "live like they're dying." Although it is important to live like this because you never know when you could pass away, we often forget about the most important thing. That is to stop and take time to tell those around us that we love them. Three simple words, "I love you," can make such an impact on someone's daily life. Think about the last time you said "I love you," to your parents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, whoever it may be. Unfortunately for me and my family the most recent time we told my dad we loved him, was the last time.
Standing by my fathers bedside as he was strugling to survive, I just couldn't look at him. Here, this man who had never shown weakness or pain, lying helplessly bleeding in a hospital bed. All because of one bullet. One senseless act. Standing there with my family I couldn't move or do anything. The only words that were able to come out of my mouth were, "I love you." The nurses and doctors told us that the last sense a person usually has before they die is their hearing, so we cold still talk to our dad and say what we wanted. Still, the only words I could say were, "I love you dad."
Words can't describe the pain I felt seeing my dad last friday night. I kept looking at the clock seeing 1 a.m., 2 a.m., 3 a.m., waiting to wake up from this bad dream. That really can't be my dad there, this is just a movie or something. The word death being used with my dad just doesn't fit, this isn't true. The newspapers can't be telling the truth, they say that Todd Upton was shot and killed, but he's my dad. I still have yet to accept what has happened and I doubt I will anytime soon. This is the type of thing you see happening to gang members and drug dealers, not the most gentle and loving man. Not my dad.
If you can take anything out of my situation, I really just hope you understand how short life can be. Live your life to the fullest everyday, but don't forget the power of the word "Love."
Right now, drop whatever you're doing and tell someone around you that you love them. Whether it be a parent, sibling, realative, friend or whoever, tell them with sincerity that you love them. Forget about your differences you might be having with your parents, and just tell them you love them. It will make a difference in all of your lives.
