Closing Thoughts

Yesterday we buried my beloved Granddaddy.  Even though we were so ready for him to be with Jesus, its still a shock to realize that he's gone.  I think we all keep looking over at that recliner in the corner half-expecting to see him sitting there.

The last week we spent together was precious.  I cannot whisper enough "thank-yous" to my Heavenly Father.  I got to sleep beside my Granddaddy the last three nights of his life.  I got to hug and nuzzle his warm neck and breathe in his scent a few last times.  I got to hear him say, "Honey, I love you so much".  Sweet Jesus did not have to give us these final moments of closure and we recognize them as His grace alone.  Thank you, Lord Jesus, for your kindness to our family.

A sweet, sweet spirit filled the room as we gathered around his bed during the last moments of Gran's life.  When he took his final breath, we didn't know whether to sob or cheer.  So we did both.  It truly is the purest mixture of sorrow and joy that I've ever witnessed in my entire life.  Dear friends, Jesus is so, so real.

I had the honor of saying some words at my Granddaddy's funeral yesterday.  I acknowledge that it was not my strength that enabled me to get the words out of my mouth.  I doubted that I would be able to make it through, but by His grace alone...I did.  In honor of my Gran, I want to share those words with you today.

      My Granddaddy had the strongest, most inviting lap you can imagine.  Many, many memories have been made sitting in Gran's strong lap.  I learned to drive in his red ford pick-up while sitting in his lap long before I was big enough to reach the pedal.  We'd take the long way through the pasture just so I could drive a little longer.  I can still hear him saying, "Now honey, you watch where you're going or we'll end up in the bottom of that pond!"  I was sitting in his lap when I learned how to bait hooks and be patient and wait for the fish to bite.  I never did get the hang of those squirmy worms dangling on the hooks.  And you know, I don't like boxing...not one bit.  But I'd be happy to watch boxing for hours if that meant sitting in Gran's lap eating vanilla ice cream with milk drizzled over the top.  

      If you can't tell, I've always thought that my Granddaddy hung the moon.  In my opinion, his strong lap was more like a throne than a chair.  For twenty-two years now he's been my hero and I've been his adoring grand baby girl.  It was sitting in Gran's lap after sunset that I learned about the unconditional love of my heavenly Father.   We would watch the stars and listen to the crickets while Granddaddy spit his tobacco in an old Styrofoam cup.  He would say, "Honey, Jesus Christ and your family are the only friends you really have." 

          You see, my Granddaddy was a man of God.  He loved the Lord, he feared the Lord and He was faithful to Him until October 16, 2012, when his faith was finally made sight.  Even in the midst of hip cancer, open heart surgeries, wheelchairs, and pulmonary hypertension my Gran remained faithful.  He'd say, "I don't know why the Lord let me be crippled, but I have to trust Him."  And then he'd say, "Honey, I believe one day I'm gonna walk."  Today Granddaddy is walking.  And boy, I can see that smile on his face from here.

          Gran was a man who cherished his family.  He was a devoted husband.  I've never seen a man who loved a woman more than my Granddaddy loved my Grandmama.  I can hear him say, "Isn't she pretty?  And gets prettier every single day."  He was a father who was there with his kids.  We've been looking through old picture albums this week and I can't even count the photos I've seen of Granddaddy and his kids...laughing, playing, swimming...you name it.  My mom always tells me that not everyone has a Dad like she does.  How forever thankful we are.  And I can personally confirm that Gran was an amazing Grandfather.  He has always doted on us like we were princes and princesses.   

          Gran has always loved for his whole family to be together.  Last week as we were anticipating Gran's arrival in Heaven,  he gave us a series of false alarms.  He would go downhill and we'd call all the family in to gather around his bed and wait.  There we'd be singing, crying and saying our good-byes and then his heart rate and oxygen level would go back up and he would be around for a few more days.  This happened three times.  Then we started to catch on, Gran just wanted his whole family together...one more time.

          Psalm 116:15 says, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints."  October 16, 2012 was a precious day for our family as we all gathered around Granddaddy's bed and watched him be ushered into eternity.  As tears streamed down our faces and joyful sobs filled the room, all we could do was thank Jesus.  We have truly been blessed.  Because of Gran's life and example, we have a legacy to follow.  We have a Truth to behold and Hope to cling to.  And we only pray that when the end of our days come that we'll follow in our Gran's footsteps.   I pray that when it's our turn to stand before the throne, we'll hear His Mighty voice saying, "Well done my good and faithful Servant."

          If my sweet Granddaddy were here today, first he'd scoop little Ben and Emilee up into his lap and then I think he'd have two things to say to his children and grandchildren and to anyone else who cared to listen.  First, he'd say "Keep your nose clean if it takes both sleeves!"  And secondly he'd say, "Jesus Christ is the only real friend you'll ever have...you remember that honey."  And I pray we will.

 We love you, Gran and we'll be seeing you soon