Grandpa

 

Me and Grandpa

"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 

he restores my soul. 

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

 I will fear no evil, for you are with me; 

your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalm 23

I slowly read those words to my Grandpa over a phone that was on speaker and held up to his ears by the sweet lady in the assisted living home. She had been tasked with taking care of him over the last few months since Grandma became sick and passed away in January. 

Grandpa, Coffee, and Sweets - a love triangle! 

Mom had texted first thing Monday morning that she had received a call from the home and that it seemed as if that day would be his last. Mom wanted to give us a heads up and an opportunity to call if we wanted to. I was grateful for the opportunity but truth be told I dragged my heels because what do you say at the end of it all? 

Good Shepherd Sunday was this last Sunday and it was fresh on my mind. Mom had mentioned that she had used this theme in their devotion, songs, and art she had brought for their last time together, too. By this time I was told he wouldn't respond but he could hear me, and so I put on my big girl pants and called my Grandpa for the last time on this side of eternity.

Grandpa and my Mom

Saying goodbye to the man we named our own son after was bittersweet. Getting to tell him what really mattered at the end of it all was overwhelming and a well needed reminder to my own perspective. 

Big Will and Little Will

Teaching his great grandson to drive a boat

I got to thank him for being such a great grandpa.  When we were kids he outfitted a riding lawn mower to be the grandkids' wheels to cruise around the property on. We spent hours in the woods surrounding their home taking turns driving and pretending to be a bus picking each other up. Or all the times he would pick me up from Prep in a borrowed airplane to bring me home for the weekend. Then there was all the videos he'd take of seemingly mundane moments of our lives he would treat as an all important moment in time that we could never get back but worth documenting. The countless trips they'd take to visit family no matter where any of us lived in the country (or out, as the case was for us), showed such a high priority for the family they loved and their adventurous spirit in exploring different places outside their mid-western home. But it wasn't any of the above memories that truly made him the great grandpa he was. He was a redeemed child of God who Jesus dearly loved and because of that he told his kids who told their kids who now tells their kids about how Jesus loves them too. That's what makes him such a great grandpa and that is what I thanked him for. 

Will and Will

Grandpa passed away Monday morning - shortly after my call with him. 

I'll miss my Hand and Foot partner. Together we called our team "The Young and the Restless" (I'm not sure who was what sometimes). And I have this overwhelming urge to take up the banjo and go to Branson, Missouri to enjoy some music shows. For now I'll listen to my favorite Johnny Cash album and think of what a great Grandpa God gave me.