My father was the finest man I have ever known.

He was an Army chaplain who served during WWII and the Korean conflict. He was born in Social Circle, Ga. in the beautiful Herndon home which was built before the Civil War.

My mother was born in Neosho, Mo. and reared in a little town named Okmulgee, Okla. They met while Dad was in seminary and Mother was in college. Mother is the greatest Christian I have ever met. Mother and Dad would always find worth in everyone. I never knew either one of them to purposefully attempt to hurt anyone and I witnessed them continually attempting to uplift everyone.

They were always looking for ways to share Christ with people. They actually believed the gospel in its entirety. I can remember when I was growing up how totally positive they both were.

When I was a child I could remember fishing half the day maybe catching a couple of little perch. I would bring them home and I would proudly show them to Mother or Dad and just watch them glow with delight. My little perch suddenly became eight-pound bass.

Dad for the last nine years of his life was blind through glaucoma and he became crippled. He also eventually developed acute dementia. Mother is currently in our home at 89 and, due to a fall, is in a lot of pain.

When Dad was still in his right mind he called me into his room and said, “Son, we don't have any unfinished business do we?” I thought for a while and said, “Dad, I don't know of any.” He said, “I don't have any either.” We had a prayer together and I hugged him and left the room.

Mother in all her pain continues to tell us she loves us.

I am not attempting here to just uplift my parents, but there is something very spiritually deep going on even into the last days of one's life. If one's Christianity is real and one has seriously followed Jesus and His teaching, it shows up over and over again, not only in the productive days of our lives but especially in the last days of our lives.

This is the way I want to leave this life. It is with the hope of eternal life through the age-old story of “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”

If you have any “unfinished business,” with your parents or family members or with God, deal with it now before it is too late.

The Rev. Dr. Knox Herndon is the pastor of His House Community Church (SBC) and a substitute school teacher in the Fayette County school system, and a former Army chaplain. The church is currently meeting in the American Legion Log Cabin across from the fountain on the Square in Fayetteville. Prayer line 770-719-2365 e-mail Khern2365@aol.com

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