Jon Baggett’s Weblog

I think for the post I am going to stray from one individual experience but instead I am going to focus more on a series of events.

Earlier this week I visited my old hometown, Belton, and it brought back so many memories. I spent the good portion of my childhood there and made many lifelong friends. It was a good experience to see my old friends and visit with them. But, in some ways it made me a little sad. It made me realize how much my life has changed in 3 short years.

3 years ago my dad was appointed to a new church, RHUMC, and my life was starting over! But, my family was still all there and honestly I had moved 4 other times so it wasn’t too bad. Then it all hit, my was diagnosed with a brain tumor that was cancerous a little less than a year since we had  moved. It often felt like a dream for me and my sisters and we often told each other, “sometimes it just doesn’t seem real”. And it was true. But in this horrible time, my dad revealed to me more of an inspiration than ever. Literally knowing he was destined for death his kind and gentle heart shown more than it ever did to me. He inspired everyone who was around him. I can remember him preaching on sunday morning from his walker. What dedication! He finally had to step down from senior pastor and it was very hard on us as a family. We had to move to a rent house. Life continued but dad still amazed me more and more. He would come to my soccer games and sit in the car because he couldn’t get out, but he was still there cheering me on. Words cannot describe what impression he made on my life. Then finally on April 13,2007 he passed on into heaven. We did mourn but it was not as much as I thought, instead we celebrated how he was in that better place, and I also know God has put him to work up there doing something that he needed to be doing, and that he is watching over  everyone in the family. 

Since then, life has changed even more, but you get used to the changes after so many of them. We moved yet again, my mom has recently remarried, to a very respectable man who is very different from Dad. But he was told me, he doesn’t want to try and be my Dad and just wants to be there for me. What a mature thing to say to me! I have much respect for him! 

On mission trip, I felt closer to Dad than I have felt since he passed away. I could tell he was proud of what I was doing and what a fine, young man I have become. I often think of what my Dad would do in a situation and try to copy his actions. It is a tough job since he was the kindest and most gently man most people have met! I could in no way get close to what he did, but atleast I can try. Overall I think my dad was the prime example of a person that in John Wesley’s words did all the good he can, by all the means he can, in all the ways he can, in all the places he can, at all the times he can, to all the people he can, as long as ever he can. To me, that is what my Dad did, and I will always remember that. Rest in Peace Dad