Happy Birthday Son - I Miss you!

May 3, 2016. Chad’s 28th birthday! Chad is enjoying another indescribably wonderful day in the presence of the Lord where time will be no more and sin is forever banished, but oh how I miss him!

I miss Chad’s thoughtfulness. He called his mother every day. He remembered to come by and help his dad when leaves needed to be raked or when a ball game would be a whole lot more fun to watch with a fellow fan.

I miss Chad’s unique (and sometimes warped) sense of humor. Chad was funny in a snarky way. Because Chad and I worked together my day was filled with text-messages, emails, and stop-byes filled with laughter.

I miss Chad’s tender heart. He cried when a soul was saved, got emotional trying to talk through passages of Scripture that touched his soul and cared about people – especially the young people in our youth group.

I miss Chad’s zeal. He was in life to live it. He was singularly focused on the task of advancing the cause of Christ. There was always time to read another article, write another lesson, plan another activity, think about a better
tomorrow.

I miss Chad’s questions and the careful analysis of the answers that he was given. He wanted so much to provide for Courtney, Chase and his unborn daughter. During his last months on earth, Chad was full of questions about housing, investments and educational opportunities.

I miss Chad’s voice. I still have Chad’s number on speed-dial and for some weird reason his voice mailbox is still operational. I’ve been known to push the speed-dial just to hear Chad say, “Hello, this is Chad Phelps.”

I miss Chad’s future. He had such promise as a servant of the Lord, bible-expositor and Christian leader. When Chad was called to heaven, my father said, “We’ll never know how many great things he could have done!”

As we celebrate Chad’s 28th birthday, I find myself confessing – “I miss Chad a whole lot!” Yet, I can say, “Thank you God for the inestimably wonderful treasure that you loaned us for 25 precious years! Linda and I knew when you sent him that he was on loan (Ps. 127). We dedicated him to you at birth, and we are so thankful that he dedicated himself to you in life.”

Remembering Our Son, Charles Richard Phelps, III (Chad)
May 3, 1988 - July 27, 2013

God blessed us with your presence,
You were always such a joy.
Your life brought us only happiness.
Our dear and precious boy.

Your life was centered on God's will,
You followed His commands.
You lived to serve the Sovereign One
Who formed you with His hands.

Our time with you was very short.
God called you home to be.
We're left behind and waiting still,
'Till one day, soon we'll see.

Then in sweet reunion,
We'll gather round God's throne.
We'll praise the Lamb whose blood was shed - 
To bring us safely home.

​ - DAD