Until We Meet Again

On Tuesday night, July 6th, my Grandpa passed away.

Like watching and waiting for a laboring mother to deliver, we watched and waited by his bedside - providing comfort, speaking our love into his ears, and holding his hand until his laboring ceased and he was delivered to his Savior. His wife of 69-years sat by his side holding his hand. 

"He was 91, what did you expect?" many critics say. You don't know my grandpa. He has been in and out of hospitals for the last 20-years. We were used to the many, many calls of, "he might not make it." Miraculously, over and over again he continued to recover. 

This time it was different. 

My Grandma chose a teal snoopy t-shirt for my Grandpa to wear when he came home from the hospital on Monday. Snoopy was dancing happily over the words, "Just Keep Smiling." Through his labor pains his simple Snoopy t-shirt bore witness to his enduring gratefulness for God's presence and grace. When his spirit had departed and body was still, Snoopy was still dancing. His picture (above) from his 90th birthday party captures his smile and comforts my heart like he is whispering a reminder to "Just Keep Smiling."

We weren't ready.

You would think we would have been ready for Grandpa's departure. Instead death came quickly, like a thief in the night. After hours of watchful care, we decided to read Psalm 27, pray together and sing some hymns - three of Grandpa's favorite activities. At every space in the house was a Bible, plus the Bible's on the bookshelf - by his bedside, at the table, by his chair, on his desk. I picked up the Bible by his chair. Inside his Bible was his mask and the bulletin from my church from the Sunday I preached a few weeks ago. My heart felt that deep pain knowing I wouldn't get to see him in church, smiling from ear to ear. Once we finished singing, we began preparing for bed. 

While we weren't looking he slipped away.

I know I have much to be thankful for and have many memories to bring me comfort, but for now my heart is grieving as I remember and ache in his absence.

Thank you, Grandpa, for your gift of music, your model of service, your timeless sense of humor, and your love for Jesus. I love you and already miss you so, so much. Until we meet again...