“I’m not ready to live in a world without Mike Padilla.”
On April 26, the day Mike died, those were the only words I could squeak out. One week later, I still believe that to be true. I am not ready. My wife is not ready. Our church is not ready. His family is not ready. His wife Josie is not ready.
He Took Us In
Tamila and I both lost our fathers when we were 17. We had lived our adult lives without fathers, that is, until we met Mike. He became the father that we both lost. When we so desperate to share something with our fathers, he stood in their place. He loved my wife like a daughter, like one of his own. He encouraged me in words and actions on how to love my wife well. He taught me the joys of following Christ and loving people.
Mike was the first person to hold our son. You should have seen his face; a face of a grandfather rejoicing in a new grandchild. Though our fathers were not there to hold our son, our hearts burst with joy that Abo was there to hold him. From that point on, Mike wouldn’t give him up. He would walk around the church showing off his grandson. He was so proud.
Maybe this is why we are not ready for a world without Mike.
Consistency and Passion
Mike lived a consistent life. He daily read the Word of God and prayed. He habitually sought to know His God better. He daily shepherded his wife. He regularly called his children to encourage them. He faithfully took time to get to know each one of his grandchildren individually. He was constantly discipling people within our church. He routinely shared the gospel with those who did not know Christ. He repeatedly served the church day in and day out, tirelessly and unwavering in his mission.
Mike lived a passionate life. He had a passion to know God and His word more. He couldn’t help but talk about the things he was reading and learning about. And out of the overflow and passion for His God flowed his love for people. You couldn’t know Mike without being encouraged. Every conversation with Mike consisted of being encouraged by the scriptures. He passionately pointed people towards the truth of God’s word.
Maybe this is why we are not ready for a world without Mike.
Define Ready
As I considered my unreadiness this week, I realized something. All along, Mike has been preparing us for this day. Every joyful greeting, every warm embrace, every encouragement towards Christ, every admonishment to trust in God at all time — all of this was to prepare us for the day he would no longer be on this earth.
Mike’s life wasn’t about Mike. It was about Christ. He is another saint, who was a faithful signpost pointing the way to the King.
Every task that God wanted him to do on this earth was done. Though we thought that he had many more years of service to the kingdom, God wanted his saint rejoicing around the throne. And the same God in which Mike is looking at today, is the same God that will sustain us until we see the glorious face of Jesus.
Even though I’m not ready to live in a world without Mike Padilla, God is ready. Mike has prepared us, and God will sustain us.
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