AMAZING FATHER'S DAY. Never in a million years did I ever imagine Corban's name floating in space.
In 2009, our son Corban Scott Goad, was in the 3rd grade, when he won a Tennessee Tech science contest and got to talk to the crew at the International Space Station for STS-129. The crew for that mission included Pilot, Barry "Butch"
Wilmore. In fact, the poster from that mission still hangs on Corban's wall untouched in his bedroom.
Later Corban was a student at Tennessee Tech, and astronaut Butch Wilmore landed a seat on the Tech Board of Trustees at the same time. As y'all know Corban left Tennessee Tech as the pandemic wrapped up and wound up working for the Cumberland County Sheriff's department. Then Corban left us tragically in 2022 when he was 21 years old.
Fast forward to this week, when Commander Butch Wilmore flew back to space on the Boeing Starliner, and is back aboard the International Space station.
As it happens, one of my close friends from back home happens to be Butch Wilmore's sister-in-law. I don't know how it all went down, except to say I know God did something amazing here. Last night I couldn't sleep--it's my second Father's Day without Corban. I prayed and asked God if He'd tell Corban I love him.
This morning I woke up to a text including some very special pictures. Commander Wilmore had created a sign, "In Loving Memory of Corban Goad" with the hashtag Corban Strong. It is floating in space! My son's name. Wow. I am amazed. I believe God used my good friend, along with an astronaut who both love Him, to show me that He sees me and that He loves our family.
For anyone out there who is grieving, whenever you begin to think God doesn't see you, look around. He'll show you He does. If you know someone who's grieving, maybe you can ask how God can use you to show someone His amazing love. If you do, trust me, He's gonna show up in a big way no matter how distant you feel.
If you know someone who needs to be encouraged, please share this or tag them. God is good. Also Happy Father's Day and special thanks to Commander Barry "Butch" Wilmore and special thanks to my awesome buddy Lorrie Bradshaw. Also Happy Father's Day to my dad in Heaven, and of course to my Heavenly Father.
"The Heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims the work of His hands." --Psalm 19:1
--CorbansDad
(To learn more about Corban and our foundation that supports First Responders you can go to www.ServeStrong.us)
To listen to a song about Corban's life just go to CorbansDad.com.