DEVASTATED!

Today is April 19, 2007 and we just buried my oldest brother. I cannot describe the emotional roller coaster our family has been on this past week. This has been the most heart wrenching and devastating experience that I have ever had in my life. The hurt is beyond description and the emptiness cannot be explained.

Bishop Bobby Stephen Brackett age 61 went home to be with the Lord this past Monday morning. It was just last Tuesday (10th) that my dad passed away and to have Bob die in less than a week's time is like a nightmare. My heart is like wax after being broken and crushed. Just when I think I'm getting a handle on everything it hits me again and I cannot hold back the tears. It's unexplainable and unimaginable.

I was with Bob when he died and it will be forever embedded in my mind. I wanted so much to help him but there was nothing that I, my brother David, my sister Darlene or the paramedics could do; he was gone. I cried out to God and I said, "God I don't understand, how can this be happening? We just lost dad, please don't take Bob" I don't have any answers or any explanation for why this has happened. But I do know that God is God and He always will be God! I went back to the church and got on my face before God and I prayed. I said, "God you don't owe me an explanation and you don't have to answer to me. I know that you are sovereign and your ways are above my ways. I will praise you in the midst of my grief and my sorrow" I've never felt God anymore powerful than during this time when I have been crushed and broken.

I will miss Bob because we labored together in the ministry. I'll miss calling him on Monday morning and asking him how he is doing and hearing him say, "I'm a clicking!" He was my golfing partner and I will miss playing golf with him and talking shop.

My heart goes out to his wife Joyce, daughters Karen & Madessa. I cannot imagine how it will be when they realize that he is never coming home again. The East Belmont Church of God has lost a great pastor and they will be hard pressed to find a better man than Bob Brackett. My dear 81 year old mother has lost a husband and a son in less than a week's time.

So, what do you do? How do you respond and react to such devastating events in life? What do you do; you keep holding on to the faith! You keep trusting God to see you through. You keep looking up because you know that they cannot come home but we will soon be going home.

HEARTBROKEN!

Today is April 13, 2007 and we just buried my dad;it hurts so bad! I have been in the ministry for almost 36 years and I've preached many funerals but today more than ever I felt death as never before. It hurts so bad to feel the loss and finality of death. I keep saying over and over to myself, "My dad is gone", and each time tears well up in my eyes. It's amazing at how many memories come rushing back to me, even little things. I remember "moments" and in my mind there are these little vignettes playing over and over again.

Kermit Cleveland Brackett, known as "Babe", was a great man! I've never heard anyone ever say an unkind word about my dad. He worked hard all of his life; with great ingenuity he could tape, glue, strap, fix or repair just about anything. We never had much but he always found a way to stretch things or to make them work. He was a quiet man and "gentle man". He loved God and the church and would do just about anything that was asked of him.

Dad had such a great sense of humor and loved to tease. He enjoyed life and God blessed him with 82 years. It came as a great shock this past Tuesday when I received the call that things didn't look good for him. When we arrived at the hospital and we went back to the room to where they had taken his body it didn't seem real. He looked like he was sleeping and at anytime he would wake up and say, "how's it going?" I'm going to miss calling home on Sunday afternoon and hearing mom say, "Babe, Rick's on the phone" and hearing him say, "how's it going?" or "did you have a good one today?", because he always wanted to know about the church.

Dad and Mom have been married for 64 years and I know it's going to be tough on all of us but especially her. Yet we all know that this is temporary and we will have a glad reunion day.

It's spring time and we just celebrated Easter. Easter means "RESURRECTION" and I know that dad will be getting up real soon and we will be together again. I am so thankful for all he taught me but especially about the Lord.

Dad had grown tired but now he is resting in peace; he is with the Lord! I am heartbroken yet I rejoice in knowing that he is now in the presence of the Lord.