In memory of Dada | His legacy of faith still speaks
In June 2019, my father developed sudden fever and fatigue. He seemed less energetic than before. His health stayed the same over July 2019 as well. In August 2019, he had a recurring fever and kept growing weak, and he spent more time laying in bed. By this time, he had around two courses of antibiotics and done many blood tests. Eventually, my father was diagnosed with 4th stage colon cancer and was admitted to the hospital for treatment by the end of Aug 2019. We were taken aback by the news of his report because he was healthy, kept a strict diet, exercised daily, preferred food from home over restaurants, neither did he show any signs of illness before the onset of fever.
At the hospital, myself and my brother took turns to stay with our father in order to manage both our work demands and our father’s needs. During the last week of September, my father’s condition had become really worse. His blood bilirubin value soared high meaning his liver’s function was almost done, and his scans showed secondary infections in other parts of his body.
As I write, I remember the last weekend of September, a Saturday night, my mother had insisted I stay at home and take rest as the next day (Sunday) I had to conduct the Sunday service in place of my father (Pastor of our church). But there was this feeling within me to stay back. I realised it was in my spirit that I felt the same. I slept at the hospital that night, and woke up the next day, unsure of what’s going to happen; I got ready and went to the church in the early morning at 6 a.m.
After the church service, I was back in the hospital room, where people came to pray for dad’s recovery. They encouraged us not to lose hope and to stand strong in faith.
Sunday afternoon, the blood test results were alarming, the doctors called us (my mother, brother & myself) away from the crowd in the room and gave us a hint to be prepared for anything.
Knowing that the Lord does everything according to His great plan and purpose, we surrendered to the divine will.
We prayed together, “Father, not our will, but let Your’s be done!”
Sunday night, I sat by my father’s side, watching him sleep in dim light. I observed the changes in his face that occurred over just three months, how tired and weary he looked, the pain he was going through was written all over his face. Amidst sorrow, the only thing I knew to do best was praying silently, and so I did. My heart was burdened, and I did not want to be apart from him for even a minute. I felt the need to stay beside him the entire time forgetting everything else.
To my surprise, my father woke up suddenly from his sleep and gestured with his hand for me to sleep. He whispered, “Why don’t you sleep?”. His concern moved me deeply that even then in his lowest point, I felt my father’s care and concern.
In the middle of the night, my mother woke up and I went to sleep. Monday morning as I opened my eyes, I saw my father was given oxygen support as he went into a coma and struggled to breathe. My mother informed our relatives and church members of the situation. Our relatives, church members and all those near and dear to us were present by noon. We faced our worries that day and those hours with songs of praise and prayers, surrendering everything to the Lord. And finally, with everyone present in the room, my father breathed his last at around 5 p.m on the 30th September 2019.
On 2nd October 2019, his funeral service was conducted. The gathering witnessed testimonies from pastors, brothers and other family members about Dada.
The Lord heard our prayers, He gave us the strength and grace to endure the grief, and here we are! One year past his demise! The Lord remained faithful. He held us through the thick and thin.
This is the Bible verse which the Lord had put in my heart, a few days before Dada passing away.
“It was by faith that Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. God said he was pleased with the gifts Abel offered and called Abel a good man because of his faith. Abel died, but through his faith he is still speaking.” (Hebrews 11: 4)
I meditated on this verse: Abel died, but through his faith, he is still speaking.
Yes and Amen! Even if we die one day, the faith which the Lord has given us will continue to speak.
About Dada
My Dada Pastor Thomas P Kurien (Moses) had great faith in the Lord. His perseverance and courage to work for the Lord have challenged all of us. Through his life, God has helped many people to grow in faith. He started to preach the Word of God in his teen years and became a pastor at the age of 19. And until the age of 59, he served the Lord. 40 years of service for the Lord. The beloved husband to my mother, who took care of her as his precious gift (as you would know from her testimony. Watch here). The loving, caring and nurturing father to us, his children. He amazed us every time with his work- home- ministry balance. Intended perfection in everything he did, significantly spreading the word of God and abiding by it.
(Those of you who are reading, if you have any testimony to share on how the Lord has used my father to encourage you, kindly share in the comments below OR leave a personal voice message here. I would love to hear about him from you all. Meanwhile, we can be encouraged by your testimony)
I still hold on to the verse that the Lord gave me. Hence I believe that the legacy of faith that my dad has left behind still speaks.
I take this opportunity to thank all of you who supported us at our time of grief and thank you for your prayers. God bless you.
Here is a message from Dada to all out there. This video was recorded on June 2019 (after the first occurrence of fever) during a family boat ride in Kuttanad, Allepey, Kerala. Little did we know that in a month or two, he would pass away, leaving behind a beautifully worded, crisp, important message like the one below.
