My Soul is Thirsting, Psalm 63

Seven years ago this week, my dad passed away near Young, AZ.  I was able to fly out there with my husband when Dad had taken a turn for the worse and had a couple of days just being around him.  He had been in Hospice care for a couple of years and we had had several close calls during that time.  It was a very special and gut-wrenching time seeing my dad slip away.

Around 5 a.m. on the morning of his death, my step-mom woke me up and said this was probably it.  We all stood around his bed until he drew his last breath.  Now my dad had pretty much turned away from the church years before, but he was still a believer.  I felt strongly that some kind of scripture should be read at the time of his death, but I was in no shape to accomplish anything of that sort.  I reached out to my dear husband, who brought out the Psalm for the day, which was Psalm 63 and read it over my dad. It was amazing that this Psalm was the perfect one for this occasion and I know my dad would have approved.  Here it is:


You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you;

I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land where there is no water.

I have seen you in the sanctuary, and beheld your power and your glory.
Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.

I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.

I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.
Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.  Psalm 63:1-8   Amen.

I love you, Dad.