ALWAYS BE READY

The Last Time I Saw Him
Ken Ebright

“So always be ready, because you don’t know the day or the hour the Son of Man will come Matthew 25:13.” (NCV)

In the late nineties, my dad divorced my stepmom and left town. I thought I would never see him again.

But in 2013, I was reunited with my him after a 15-year absence. He was in his eighties back then. Over the years I tried to see him as much as I could. It was hard because he lived six hours away. Every time I got into my car to leave him, I wondered if it was the last time I would see him alive. 

On Memorial Day 2017, I went to see him at a nursing home. He was there for rehabilitation after hip replacement surgery. He was in a bad mood that visit, wanting to go home. When I left, I bent down to look into his eyes as he lay on the bed. Tearfully I said, “Dad, I love you” and turned around to leave.

Then on Father’s day, I called and wished him well. That would be the last time I would hear his voice. Around 3:30 in the morning of July, 26 of 2017, would be his last moment on earth. I later learned that just one week earlier he had told my stepmom that he felt he would not make it to his birthday. No one can be certain, but I think he had a sense that he was about to head to his heavenly home. He knew he was right with Jesus and ready. 

My dad was called home before Jesus return like many of us will be. And like my dad, none of us know the day of our death for sure. 

The question is, if you were to die today would you be ready? Do you know Jesus like my dad did?

Ken is a native Minnesotan and loves to sing and can play a keyboard instrument. Contact