As You Go
Rarely does a person realize the
gift that they are to those around them until it’s too late. They trudge through life doing what they have
to, to make ends meet. Hoping all the
while, that they are making a difference somewhere, they continue to move
forward collecting regrets along the way.
It is likely that we all know at
least one person fitting this description.
The one that comes to my mind is my Father-In-Law, Grandpa Craig. He was stubborn and graceful, tough and
soft. There were days when I wanted to
scream my head off at him and days when I wanted to give him a huge hug. Life around grandpa was an adventure, to say
the least.
Unfortunately, he died just 1 week
ago. It was sudden and completely
without warning. He was mowing and his
heart just gave out.
We received the horrific phone call
and could not believe what we heard. Grandpa
was gone. Immediately, we knew we needed
to be by mom’s side. The nine to ten hour
trip seemed to drag on forever. We just
wanted to be sure she was ok. When we
arrived, we were relieved to see that she was surrounded by loved ones.
Grandpa Craig’s viewing was a shock
for all of us. Three hundred people
patiently waited to pay their respect.
Shaking each and every hand, mom stood and listened intently to the
stories people had to share. Grandpa
helped to mow the lawns of widows. He
also coached track, volunteered to do military funerals, lead the boy scouts,
took communion to shut-ins, and so much more.
With each person, the list grew while eight little grandkids gained a
better understanding of who their grandpa really was.
Those of us, who felt guilty for
being upset with him at times, watched it all happen with condemned amazement. He truly touched a vast array of lives.
The funeral, the next day, was a
beautiful testament to a strong man who raised two spectacular men. Grandpa was
a man who served God, family, and others.
These characteristics are also found in them. However flawed it might have been at times,
Grandpa pointed others to God and glorified Him for it. He brought God glory with both his life and
his death.
During the next couple days, we
spent time looking through paperwork.
Contained in a stack of random things, I saw a paper he wrote simply entitled,
“ESSAY”. The essay had not been completed, yet it gave insight into the mind of
a man who struggles in the same way we all do.
In the essay, Grandpa contemplated
what could have been. He loved watching
Judge shows as a kid, and thought that he would’ve been happier if he could
have been a lawyer. He claimed that if
he could change the past, everything would be better.
This composition did not speak to me
because I believe everyone should try to change their pasts. It spoke volumes because it showed that even
a man of 62, with wisdom and years of knowledge, contemplates these
things. Little did he know how much God
was using him, right where he was!
I believe Dad envisioned himself as unsuccessful
because of a lay-off he endured. Yet even
that, was a gift from above. The lay-off
enabled him to have time for the widows, the broken hearted, and those who
needed a hand.
So, as you take inventory of the
life you have led, let it not be an inventory of the money in your accounts and
the position in your company. But rather
let it be an inventory of the lives you have touched, the joy you have spread,
and the love you have given. Give away
that which you have been given, as Grandpa did, giving God the glory as you go.
