“He is ‘The Rock!’ His work is perfect, all His ways are just." ~ Deuteronomy 32:4
Joseph Torrez always dreamed of being
a father. He wished for a son with every
coin he tossed in a fountain and every candle he lit at church. Active, disciplined, and empowering would
define his parenting – just like his own Dad.
To watch a child spread his wings, make the right choices, and strive to
make the world a better place would be Joseph’s finest achievement, he
imagined.
It surprised no one that his newborn
son, Rowan, made Joseph’s life worth living by just being near him. He immediately became the sunshine in his day,
the joy in his soul, and the most important mark he would ever leave on this
world.
He made the tough decision to temporarily leave his family behind in Colorado when he joined the Navy while concurrently earning two Masters’s degrees from MIT in Boston. It took hard work, dedication, and sacrifice, all to better provide for his small family.
Rowan’s life changed forever in
March of 2013 when Commander Torrez passed away from a rare neurological
disorder. The speed of the disease
prevented the young boy from seeing his father before he died; there was no final
goodbye from his Dad.
Until one week before the anniversary of Joseph’s death.
That’s when Rowan, now ten years
old, received something incredible in the mail - a postcard dated almost eight
years after his Dad had written it and nearly two years after he died. They say the best gifts come in small
packages, and this one was truly special.
The postcard had been mysteriously
delayed for years, but it came right on time for Rowan. Despite its long journey, (giving new meaning
to snail mail), it arrived in near-pristine condition.
"Hello from
Pennsylvania,” the postcard read. “I love you and I miss you so much. See you soon. Love, Daddy." No sappy “Having a great time, wish you were
here” message. It couldn’t have been
more perfect communicating what he’d never been allowed to say to his son.
For Rowan, it was as if a wrong
has been righted. His Dad had found a
way to be in touch. The boy added it to
his collection of memorabilia – Joseph’s Navy cap, shoulder boards, medals, and
several other treasured postcards.
Just because God seems silent
doesn’t mean we should doubt Him. His
silence is an invitation to forge ahead and seek Him more diligently.
Our Father, our refuge in the storms of
life, we thank you for your protection. Teach
us to call on You when we feel overwhelmed. Like the open cactus flower leaning against
the stones, help us to lean on You. You
are our ‘Rock” when we are lost, afraid, lonely, and confused. Amen
