granddad

today my beloved granddad died... i just don't know what to say. i loved that man so much and i can't believe he's gone.

before he passed away, i just sat talking with him. i told him that i can't imagine my world without him. i talked to him about my memories of him. i talked about his other grandchildren who weren't there but were thinking of him and wishing they could be with him. i read scriptures to him and when i did, even though he was not responsive and never opened his eyes, he cried when i read 1 corinthians 13. i cried and told him that i was so glad to know that he would be in heaven... with my grandma, with his brother and sister, with his baby who died when my dad was little, with his parents, ... but most of all, he would be with Jesus.

i know that granddad was a little fearful of death a few weeks ago. i'm sure its scary to leave behind people you love and want to protect and provide for. and i know that his physical pain was great (i must get my low tolerance for pain from him) and that must have been scary too. but i love that he was reassured when daddy reminded him of his brother's (uncle walter) words before he died, "nothing in my hands i bring, simply to thy cross i cling"... this gave granddad peace. he had peace because he was certain of his salvation through Jesus and Jesus alone... and i know that he is right now with his Savior in heaven, and that gives me peace in the midst of grief and sorrow.

but i still can't believe he's gone...

we saw him on sunday. he wasn't very alert for most of our visit, but he did greet each of the boys and was glad to see them. i thank God that they knew him and were loved by him. and i thank God that i knew him and was loved so well by him.