My longest-running prayer was answered Monday evening, August 10, 2026, when my dad took his last earthly breath.  To pull from my very first writing, here’s a little about my dad:

“One person, however, impacted my walk with Christ tremendously…my dad. My dad demonstrated what it meant to love as Christ loves. My dad poured everything he had into serving Christ. I remember seeing him in times of prayer lying face down, pouring his heart out. I remember seeing him with a small reading light on at night reading his Bible in bed. My dad taught an adult Sunday School class, was a deacon in our church, & cried every time the Spirit moved him. Wanting to share the gospel further, my dad organized an outdoor Passion Play involving 7 area churches which took place in my hometown of downtown Norcross. My dad was a full-time Kroger Pharmacist, then later was also a seminary student, and part-time associate pastor. Jesus was his passion. Jesus was always on his lips. Then, when he & my mom were in the hills of Kentucky scouting a mission trip opportunity, my dad suffered a massive stroke. With no hospital close. This stroke robbed me of my dad. It took his voice. It took his right side movement. This was the year 2000, he was 48 years old. My dad is still with us, but unfortunately, I can no longer have those awesome, in-depth bible discussions with him.”

That writing was about pending unanswered prayers, my dad’s healing being one of those unanswered prayers…from that same writing, here’s what I learned about pending unanswered prayers:

“It taught me how to trust, even when I cannot see. It taught me about God’s sovereignty. This spoiled-child-of-God is now grateful that God said no. For it was in that “no”, that I grew the most. It’s in that “no” that makes me continue to pray for my dad, even after 15 years (edited to add…26 years). I may never get to hear my dad preach again this side of heaven. But what do I know? I know that God loves me like no other. He has a reason for choosing not to heal my dad. And I will trust that reason, even though I don’t know what it is. I also know that my dad will spend eternity in heaven where he will have a brand new body. Where he will be able to lift both hands & his voice in praise to God. This life is short. Heaven is eternal. God is awesome.” (Read full blog here)  

My dad is now completely restored, healed, and in the presence of Jesus!  He is now lifting both hands and his voice in praise!  During his last week on earth, being by his side through hospice care, I kept praying over and over “Father, take my father”, because I desired that his suffering would finally come to an end.  

(Side note – there are so many people to thank during the 10 days hospice, especially my husband, Brandon, but this is a whole other blog post.)

I started writing in 2015 at the prompting of the Holy Spirit.  I cannot help but think if that prompting came to carry on my dad’s voice when he had lost his due to the stroke.  My dad modeled what it looked like to surrender your life to Christ.  He told anyone he came across about the saving grace of Jesus Christ, including making efforts even after he lost his voice (I wrote about that here).  I cannot help but think that now dad may know exactly how far his legacy reaches, as it was hard for him to understand the workings of a blog before.  

Since he could no longer do so, I was inspired to pick up where my dad left off.  His legacy of faith encouraged me to share the love of Christ far and wide – through being on church staff (ministering to weekday preschool families), teaching Sunday School, AWANA, Vacation Bible School, leading Bible studies, speaking at women’s ministry events, self-publishing two books, and maintaining a blog.  I share this not to brag, but to honor his legacy.  I have been experiencing many emotions since dad entered the hospital two weeks ago, and now having entered into heaven, and seeing how far my dad’s legacy has reached brought a sense of peace that his story is not finished.  There is still much to share.  

Currently, my blog, “Loved Fiercely” (linked here) has 22,790 views, 15,850 visitors, and has been read in 122 countries, all the ones shaded in blue below.  All honor, glory and praise to God for this!  I have yet to travel to Africa to share Jesus like my dad did, but my words sharing about Jesus have been read in Africa.  

To my dad, thank you.  Thank you for living your life for Christ, even to the end.  Thank you for running your race with endurance.  Thank you that you modeled Hebrews 12:1-3 in such a real, tangible way.  You looked only to Jesus.  When someone stares intently at someone, others around cannot help but look to what has captured one’s eye.  You did that for me.  For when I looked at you, you were looking at Jesus, therefore, you taught me the same.  That is why, when preparing to go to your visitation and funeral this weekend, while my heart is torn in so many directions, I will keep my eyes fixed on Jesus, like you taught me.  Thank you for waiting until I got home from work on Monday to take your last breath.  I know it’s so selfish to say so, but I am grateful all the same.  I love you, dad.  I am going to miss you so much until I see you again.  

“Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking only at Jesus, the [a]originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-3

Lord Jesus, thank you for the hope of heaven for those who believe in your life, death and resurrection.  Thank you that you had gone before to prepare a place for my dad for eternity. I wish I could have seen the homecoming my dad experienced on Monday, as I am sure it was amazing.  Please be near to all those who loved dad during this time of remembering and celebrating his life.  Thank you for knitting together all you did in Carl Samuel Johnson, my namesake.  You blessed me with such an incredible father who wrote to me so much.  Just looking through all his letters to me over the years this morning was a blessing I would not have been as grateful for otherwise.  Thank you for somehow prompting me to keep every letter from every mission trip, the “just becauses”, and from every stage of life so I can continue to “hear” his voice until I see dad again.  I love you, Lord.  Give dad a hug for me.  Amen.