Her Dad Was Dying, And God Sent A Deer As A Special Messenger
October 15, 2015
The Story Of The Buck
Losing a loved one is never easy, and many times the final days can be especially difficult for the family. While we take comfort in knowing our loved ones are headed to a better place, where we will one day see them again, it’s still hard to say goodbye.
When TV News Anchor, Latricia Thomas, recently lost her father, the family was blessed with a true miracle in his final days. Latricia was kind enough to share the experience during the eulogy at her father’s service, and also on the Facebook page of the TV station where she works. And what happened during her father’s days is truly incredible.
Please read on to hear the gift God sent Latricia and her family. . .
When My Daddy was a hunter. Every year, on opening weekend of bow season, you could find him in a tree, in his camo at sunrise.
As the years went by, he traded his gun for a camera and instead taught his kids and grandkids how to enjoy the hobby he loved.
Last week, two days before he died, Daddy met his buck. It was gorgeous, a 10 point with six spikes on one side and four on the other. He came to the window where daddy was sitting in his favorite chair and looked in, right at him.
A few minutes later he was on the porch, literally nudging the handle to try and get in. Daddy stood up, in a rare surge of energy for those final days, opened the door and held his hand out. And that deer, which he'd never seen before, relaxed under his hand and let my Daddy pet him. A wild animal who, for just a few minutes, was as tame as a dog raised from a puppy. My daddy looked at him, and he looked at Daddy and Daddy simply said "I'm ready."
After eight years of fighting a disease that wouldn't leave him alone, he was ready.
After watching 3 kids and 9 grandkids come into this world, he was ready.
After coming face to face with an animal he had waited on, for years, he was ready.
Daddy sat back down in his chair as Me and my brother and sister went outside to see the Buck. He nuzzled each one of us, putting his head on our shoulder and licking our faces. The whole time, he never startled or jerked.
When we came inside Daddy said "you don't understand. That was my Daddy, come to take me home. He just wanted some time to see his grandkids after 30 years."
My daddy was more peaceful in those next few hours than I'd seem him in weeks, maybe months. And before the Deer ran away across the field my daddy brought back to life, he said "He'll be back, one more time."
Daddy died two days later, in the house his Papaw built with his own two hands and Daddy restored and called the Villa, holding the hands of his children and loving companion Nancy. When the hospice nurse came, he mentioned how many deer we had in the area. I got out the pictures of "Daddy's buck" to show him our incredible encounter. And he looked at the first picture and said "I just saw that same Buck walking a circle around this house."
He had come, one more time, to take Daddy home. It's hard to describe what it feels like to witness a miracle. But seeing my Daddy, free from fear, in the days where we said goodbye is something I'll always be grateful for.
Daddy's last trip on his motorcycle Gravey was to Iowa, to the farm and baseball field where the movie Field of Dreams was filmed. I think he knew it would be his last road trip. He took the picture you see on the prayer cards tonight, walking into the corn that surrounds the fields. In the movie, the father of Kevin Costner's character who returns to play baseball with his son one more time asks "Is this heaven?" And his son replies "It's Iowa."
"Iowa?" His father says, "I could have sworn this was heaven."
"Is there a heaven?" His son asks.
"Oh yeah." He replies. "It's the place where dreams come true."
Here's to those sweet dreams of long-awaited reunions, peaceful road trips, endless energy and that smile that none of us will ever forget.
I love you Daddy.
Wow! It’s truly amazing to see God at work. He can do incredible things, and what a comfort this was, not just to Latricia’s father as he prepared to move on from this world, but also to the whole family. And what a great reminder that, through Him, we don’t have to say “goodbye,” but rather, “see you later.”
“In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going." John 14:2-4
Now check out this amazing encounter with a wild animal!
h/t & Featured Image Credit: Facebook
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Comfort When Grief Feels Overwhelming - Your Daily Prayer - November 5
Grief can strike hard out of nowhere, and during the holiday season, it can be especially painful. But even in the heaviest moments, God offers His peace—a peace that surpasses all understanding.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Comfort When Grief Feels Overwhelming - Your Daily Prayer - November 5
Grief can strike hard out of nowhere, and during the holiday season, it can be especially painful. But even in the heaviest moments, God offers His peace—a peace that surpasses all understanding.
Past Stories
- Donny Osmond Sees the 'End of the Tunnel' Coming After Performing for Over 6 Decades
- An Iguana Hitches a Ride on a Garbage Truck in Tennessee, Now Trying to Find Its Owner
- 6-Year-Old Starts 'Poop Scooping' Business to Help Animals and Adopt One of His Own
- Bride's Dad Drops During Father-Daughter Dance, but Things Lined up Perfectly to Save His Life
- Young North Carolina Father Risked His Life To Save a Couple and Dog From a Sinking Truck
- UPS Driver Jumps into Action As He Spots Elderly Woman on the Ground & Says It Was All God
- Rescuer Braces for the Worst After Spotting Kitten on the Side of the Road, Then Sees a Paw Move
- AJ Griffin Gives Up High-Paying Career with NBA to Follow God
- These Former Conjoined Twins Finally Go Home After Their First Birthday
- Teenager From Iowa Uses His Flying Skills to Help Hurricane Helene Victims
- Son Saves For 9 Months and Surprises Mom By Paying Off Her Mortgage
- Woman's Home is Surrounded By 100 Raccoons, and They Aren't Leaving Anytime Soon
- Dog Saves Her Owner's Life By Sitting in the Middle of the Road
- Widower Shares the Last Thing His Wife Told Their Son Before She Passed Away From Cancer
- A Nurse Saved Her Life 35 Years Ago, Now, She is Surprising Her With a Visit
- These Twin Sisters Have An Important Message To Share On Their 102nd Birthday
- This Brave 5-Year-Old Saved Her Mother's Life By Calling 911
- 79-Year-Old Broke Her Ankle After Scattering Her Mom's Ashes, Then Strangers Save the Day
- Dad Travels Through Mud and Debris to Walk His Daughter Down the Aisle
- Owner's Trip to the Vet with Unwell Dog Results in the Craziest X-Ray
- After Getting Lost in Yellowstone, This Precious Cat Made His Way Back Home To California
- Mom's Funny Response To Daughter's Dirty Sock On The Floor Goes Viral & Ends Up Doing Good
- A Kidnapped Boy Is Found After 70 Years and Reunited With His Family
- This Puppy Was Found With a Note That Read 'Help Me,' Now He's Looking For a New Home
- Excited Mom Couldn't Wait to See Son's Back to School Pictures, but Funny Results Make Her LOL
- When This Police Officer Pulled Her Over, He Changed Her Life Forever
- She Just Met Her Vietnam Veteran Father After 50 Years, Now He is Walking Her Down the Aisle
- Fearless Father Waits on Porch to Catch the Stranger Peeking in His Daughter's Window
- This 5th Grade Teacher Eats Lunch In the Cafeteria Every Day
- Amy Grant Has a New Perspective After Losing Her 'Superpower' in Bike Accident
- 'God Did It' Says 18-Year-Old After Waking Up From a Coma Following a Crash
- These Four Sisters Share a Birthday, Which is Quite the Miracle
- Dad Harmony Sings a Beautiful A Cappella Rendition of ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love'
- Couple's Outstanding Boogie Woogie Dance Performance
- Siblings’ Cover of Dolly Parton’s Classic ‘I Will Always Love You’ Is Incredible
- Pastor and Wife Were Killed in a Car Accident, But Their Kids Have a Message of Hope
- Outstanding 'Amazing Grace' Cover Music Video by Celtic Woman
- Carrie Underwood Helps With Leading Worship at Tennessee Church
- 8-Year-Old Kid's To-Do List Goes Viral As a Wholesome Reminder for Us All
- 'Holy Forever' Lyric Video by Chris Tomlin and CAIN
- Elementary Teacher Talks About the Power of Words and Kindness By Using Toothpaste
- Prayers Pour in for Loretta Lynn's Family After the Death of the Late Singer's First Grandchild
- Dennis Quaid Singing 'On My Way To Heaven" is an Inspiring Performance
- Charming Elderly Couple Share Sweet Dance to 'Have You Ever Seen The Rain?"
- Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick Adorably Sing a Sassy Duet to Celebrate 36 Years of Marriage
- Rory Feek Performs Beautiful Tune 'I Do' After Finding Love Again
- Driver Shows Up to Deliver Pizza to Elderly Man's House, Then Comes Back with His Lawnmower
- What Parents & Grandparents Don't Know About 'Easy' Recipe Trend Could Be Dangerous
Top Music Videos
The Statler Brothers 'Til the Storm Passes By' The Statler Brothers Live Performance
Anne Wilson Anne Wilson’s Powerful Live Performance of 'The Cross'
Brad Stine Has Issues Brad Stine’s Hilarious Take on Life After the Wedding
Oak Ridge Boys 'Jesus Is Coming Soon' The Oak Ridge Boys
Cody Carnes Cody Carnes - He Who Is To Come
Blogs
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.