By Mallory Mattingly
Former NFL star turned speaker and author Tim Tebow remembered his father, Bob’s, legacy of faith following his death on April 23. He was 78.
He died following a decade-long battle with Parkinson’s and was confined to a wheelchair.
“Heaven ushered in a hero of the faith last night as my Dad was welcomed home!” Tebow shared in a post on social media today. “Many will say sorry for your loss but the truth is he’s not lost, we know exactly where he is. He’s home. Forever!
“I asked him last week what he looked forward to most about Heaven, and he simply said, ‘Jesus.’ He couldn’t wait to see Jesus face to face. Praise God that his wait is over. Death has been swallowed up in victory. He’s healed and whole now. So we don’t mourn as those with no hope. See you soon Dad!” the former Heisman trophy winner continued.
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Tebow’s wife, Demi-Leigh, shared her emotions about her father-in-law’s passing.
“I didn’t get to know the big, strong, tough, character-building man so many speak of. I got to know the gentle grandpa…the one who loved ice cream, a good laugh and never met a dog he didn’t like (and who was far too easy on me for marrying his youngest son – for that I’m thankful)” she wrote on Instagram. “I am grateful for the man who raised the love of my life. The man who shaped him to be strong yet humble, courageous yet kind, bold yet deeply compassionate…a protector, a leader, and above all, a man who loves God and loves people well.”
“’Grief is the price we pay for love.’ What a privilege it is to have loved someone so dearly that their absence feels this significant,” Demi-Leigh continued. “We know heaven is rejoicing as he is welcomed into his forever home…but on this side of heaven, the emptiness is real, and it is heavy.”
Even through the hard loss, the Tebows aim to “carry forward the legacy he lived so faithfully.”
“Mr. Tebow, Thank you for the extraordinary, bold and faithful life you lived and the significant impact you had on countless lives,” Demi-Leigh concluded in her post.
The Gainsville Sun reported that “Bob Tebow and his wife Pam fell in love as UF students and married in 1971. Per Bob Tebow’s website, in 1985, they answered God’s call by moving their young family to Mindanao, Philippines, with a vision to share the Gospel with every man, woman and child. Tim Tebow was born in Philippines in 1987 and has followed his family’s calling as Evangelists.”
Bob formed the Bob Tebow Evangelistic Association in 1985, an organization deploys “local Evangelists to share the Gospel in hard to reach places.”
The association is asking for donations to honor Bob’s the life and legacy as he was pivotal in sharing the gospel to millions of people.
Pray for Tim, Demi and the rest of the Tebow family as they mourn Bob’s death but celebrate his life.
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