Timothy R. Mahoney
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2 Corinthians 4:16-15:8
That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
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Father…Husband…Teacher…mechanic…truck driver…businessman…thinker...Airman…Sailor…A man of Faith.
How many ways can you describe one man? Dad lived each one of these and more. He was a devoted husband, a father who loved his kids the best he knew how. He passed on his knowledge to all he could. He worked in many different jobs and careers, striving to do it right. But three things always stood above all else: God, Family, and Country.
Everything Dad did had one goal, to make a better life for his family. He had many goals and plans, but each one had a single guiding thought: How to make Mom’s life better. He was always concerned about how hard she worked. He also tried to raise his kids the best he could. He knew he wouldn’t be around forever, and he wanted to make sure we knew how to make it in this world.
He gave us many passions and abilities. He passed on his love of flying, and saw it in me and his grandson. He shared his love of World War II with his great-grandson. His love of racing found its way into his kids. He gave his kids a gift of mechanical ability, and an intense curiosity. He taught that if you’re going to do something, do it the best you can. “The right tool for the right job” was a favorite phrase. For the first part of life he was my father and teacher. We had our arguments and disagreements. Later, as I am raising my own kids, I saw him as a friend and mentor.
Dad’s best gift was his sense of humor. Hiding a gift at Christmas was a favorite. Other times, jokes and stories spilled out, and filled the room with laughter. Once he got email, a day didn’t pass that he didn’t find something funny to share.
Something else Dad gave us was a sense of patriotism. To him, this country was the best there ever was and ever will be. He didn’t always agree with what the president or congress was doing, but he always loved this country. He hated to see the flag disrespected, and thought there was only one way to sing the Star Spangled Banner. Dad served in the military not once, but three times. One of his proudest claims was being a veteran.
Dad lived his life on his terms, but he never forgot his relationship with God. Even when he was unable to come to church, he still watched the masses on TV. Dad was a man of faith who trusted and loved God. He always told me that you need God in your life, and that God would always be in you.
Many years ago, when stations signed off the air at night, some has a video of a plane flying with a voice-over of a poem. This poem was written just before the US entered World War II. I’d like to share it with you now.
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds
- and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of
- wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.
Dad led an interesting life. He taught his kids what he knew, the best he knew. He was preparing us to walk on our own. Last week, I told my wife that I wasn’t ready to lose my dad. But over the last week, I realized everything he has given me has prepared me. The training wheels are off. I’m ready to solo, Dad.
