LORATO RANTAO
IN public, my Dad was one of the great pastors of his generation. He served most notably for years mo kerekeng e katoliki ya Roma – Roman Catholic Church
In private, my Dad was the same man. There was only one Peter Phakedi Rantao— an authentic Christian man. The distance between what I saw in the New Testament and what I saw in my dad was slight. He was the most Christlike man I’ve ever known.
Papa was never too busy
Papa was a Bible man.
He was wholeheartedly devoted to Jesus.
He praised God.
As a kid growing up ko St Theresa Mission ko Lobatse, Botswana, I didn’t need an alarm clock most mornings. I woke up to the sound of my Dad singing in the house. Every morning he sang heartily and cheerfully this hymn:
‘Rejoice in the Lord Always/ and again i say Rejoice’
Hehehe, pina e kee opedisitswe thata ke lekana le bo Maya phakela, motshegare le bosigo.
Re tabe re tsosiwa ka 6am every morning are re rapele 📿 Rosary.
He cheered me on.
He guided me in appropriate ways, of course, but he did not fearfully cling to me or hope I would always live nearby. Just the opposite. He urged me to follow Christ anywhere.
Now and then he’d make this speech: “Listen, my daughter… kea go thola ke bidiwa ke mang my daughter tota 😭 Half-hearted Christians are the most miserable people of all. They know enough about God to feel guilty, but they haven’t gone far enough with Christ to be happy. Be all-out for him!
“Rapela ngwanaka o bee tsotlhe tseo di dirang mogo ene”.
He had a real walk with God.
Papa had a real walk with God. It never occurred to me to wonder if Jesus was the Lord of his heart and of our home. Dad loved the gospel. He served the church. He witnessed to our neighbors. He even tithed when he couldn’t afford it. He set the tone of our home, and our home was a place of joy, honesty, and comfort. Jesus was there.
He loved us when it wasn’t easy.
He lived his faith simply and practically.
Papa one a rata go kwala, he loved reading… one a re rata tota, are rapella tsatsi le letsatsi.
One a rata ngwana mongwe le mongwe yaaka a re rata.
Papa rra 😭😭😭😭😭😭
I will always love you dad ❤️
Rest In Eternal Peace
