The wise man built his house upon the Rock,
The wise man built his house upon the Rock...
[And] the house on the Rock stood firm.
(Omley, 1948).
Granddad was our last living grandparent (at least on my side of the family). Losing him was sobering, not only because of his personal loss, but because of the loss of our last tie to that generation. As I considered this loss, though, I realized that it does not have to be final. We who know Jesus will see Granddad again in heaven, and we who are living have the opportunity to carry on his legacy.
Granddad read and studied his Bible daily. It was he who started our family on a read through the Bible in a year plan. Although I don't personally follow this, I did get my start on the amended plan Granddad made just for us kids when we were growing up.
Granddad prayed, not just daily, but unceasingly. He had to give up more and more of his possessions as he transitioned into needing more and more care, but what he kept was his pictures. He would look through them time and time again. While he could not correctly name all the faces, on my last visit, he told me about how he prayed for those people. I believe him!
My mom is a prayer warrior, having taken part in corporate prayer through Moms in Prayer for years. She still participates in that ministry, and often brings others into it. Although I am not a mom and not part of that group, I try to maintain a weekly time devoted to more intense prayer. Recognizing the link to my granddad motivates me to Lord willing, keep that up.
Granddad and Nana were married over fifty years. After Nana died in 2015, Granddad never remarried. In fact, I think he wore his wedding ring right up to the end (as did she). While I know their marriage was not perfect, they set an example of commitment for all of us who follow behind them. Staying married honors God and honors them.
There are other things that live on past Granddad and Nana, too. My little brother plays the flute, as Granddad did. My mom plays the piano, as Nana did. We have stories and photos left behind from my granddad's aviation adventures, as well as some Waorani/Auca spears he got when he met members of the tribe who killed five missionaries before coming to know Jesus. I was blessed to get the stone from the ring with which my Granddad proposed, the stone that my nana wore all through her marriage. Granddad's tidiness and fastidiousness lives on in several of us, but I will only call out myself. None of us are Granddad, but together, through all of us, he lives on.
Granddad lives on not because of any certain health or even spiritual habits. He lives on because he built his house on the Rock of Jesus Christ. Ultimately, Jesus is and will be the last one. He was the last sacrifice for sin (English Standard Version, 2016, Hebrews 10:10). He is timeless, the first and the last (English Standard Version, 2016, Revelation 1:17). Granddad's life pointed us to Him, and for that, I will be forever grateful!
References:
English Standard Version. (2019). Bible Gateway. https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/English-Standard-Version-ESV-Bible/#copy
Omley, A. (1948). The wise man built his house. Timeless truths. https://library.timelesstruths.org/music/The_Wise_Man_and_the_Foolish_Man/
There is nothing more precious than "hand me down" wedding rings. I'm saying that because my wedding set belonged to my MIL. I didn't know that it existed until we got engaged, and there is no other diamond that I would want. I take my ring off for sleep and exercise, and every morning when I put it on I think of her.
ReplyDeleteI love getting to know more about your family through these posts. Hugs again to you all in this time of loss.