My dad died when I was 19

My Bible: reasons to believe in the power of the Bible

‘My dad died when I was 19. He got ill the week I went to uni and died the week after the first year. It was crazy. You don’t think you’re going to be in that situation. 

‘After that, I felt that I had a decision to make. I could either dive headfirst into faith, or think, “My dad didn’t deserve that” and run away. 

‘Psalm 1 helped make that decision. It says, “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.”

‘My dad was like that. I don’t have any bad memories. I can’t picture him not being steady. He was calm and peaceful.

‘So, I committed to do this [read the Bible] every day and chose to start my day with this, being intentional and rooting myself in this. 

‘It’s changed over the years. I’ve got into the rhythm of having the Old Testament and the New Testament on the go. Sometimes there can be weeks when I’m not reading the Bible and then I come back to this psalm and realise that things don’t feel so steady. 

‘My dad was a great role model. I had the best possible 19 years with him. I think he would say that I was on the right track by reading the Bible and keeping myself steady.’