My grandpa was a man whose life could be turned into Nicholas Sparks' next bestseller. It was filled with highs and lows, victories and defeats, mountains and valleys. He was a man of strength, integrity, valor, and grit. He met my grandma, who was a young widow raising a one year old and a two year old after losing her first husband, shortly before being shipped out for training during WWII. He married her before he left so that she could receive all of his benefits in the event that the war claimed his life. He was a Pharmacist Mate, 1st Class, USNR in the battle of Iwo Jima where he was one of three surviving members out of over forty corpsmen sent to the island. From that battle, he received a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, as well as three additional medals, but ghosts from the war haunted and plagued him most of his adult life. Even still, he came back home and began a family with my grandma that would grow to be almost fifty people spanning four generations.
It wasn't until my grandma's death in 2004 that my grandpa and I began to develop a deep bond. Over the last 14 years, we spent many days together talking, cooking, and just simply being in each others' presence, which I will always cherish. He taught me more than I could ever put into words, but in light of his passing last Tuesday, I have been reflecting about the three big lessons I learned from his life. From him I learned:
1. If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.
I bought this sign from a friend right before grandpa went into the hospital, Truer words could never have been spoken about his life. The life he and my grandma created is truly a legacy with seven children, fifteen grandchildren, twenty-three great grandchildren, and two great great grandchildren. The love he and my grandma shared is evidenced by those of us left behind. He picked fresh flowers for my grandma each day and I have no doubt he's doing that for her now in Heaven. They were married for 60 years, but even 14 years after her passing he refused to take off his wedding ring. The day before he died he even slapped my mom's hand at the mention of having to remove it because of swelling. We buried him with it still on.
The power of love can change lives, move mountains, and leave a lasting impression on anyone left in its path. When Jared and I married, grandpa told us in the receiving line to never take each other for granted, that is was over too fast. I think maybe we should all heed that advice.
2. It's never too late.
To say my grandpa was a strong-willed man might be an understatement. No wonder I'm so headstrong. And as often as that strong-will could get him into trouble, it was also life saving for him. After nearly 50 years of smoking, one day he decided it was time to quit. It was never too late to make a change for the good. He went over to the trash can, threw away his pack, his carton, and his lighters and never picked one up again.
The greatest peace I have through all of this is knowing that it's also never too late to call on Christ. At the age of 91, I was driving my grandpa to a doctor's appointment when I asked him to tell me his salvation story. To my surprise, he told me he didn't have one, that he had never asked Jesus to be his Savior. We talked a good bit and he dusted the dust off of his old Bible and began reading in Romans. I would continue to ask him over the course of the next year if he had decided to accept Jesus, but his answer was always, "No, but I'm thinkin' about it." I never quit praying and God sent a wonderful caretaker who would continue to water the seed that had been planted. At 92, my grandpa accepted Jesus. It's never too late. The peace that washes over me as I think about every burden being lifted and forgiveness flooding his soul brings tears to my eyes.
3. God's provision is miraculous.
Even when my grandpa wasn't walking with the Lord, God's provision throughout his life is evident and encouraging. He spared his life during the war; He used my grandpa as a tool to save many other men's lives who went on to go home and be reunited with their families, have children, and create legacies of their own. God provided as my grandparents raised seven children and sent them off to start families of their own. When my grandma died in 2004, God provided the opportunity for my grandpa to sell the home that they had lived in for 50 years and move to a beautiful little home next door to one of his daughters and 10 minutes down the street from us. Hurricane Ivan hit 3 months after my grandpa moved and his previous home suffered significant water and wind damage. God's provision. When it became too much for my mom and her siblings to care for him alone, God sent four sweet women who would take turns sitting with him, dispensing medication, cooking, cleaning, and caring for him the best they could. God's provision. In his last days, his health began to decline rapidly and his children were facing the decision to put him in a nursing home, which was the last resort. By God's provision again, He called my grandpa home. No more pain, no more suffering, just eternal rest and glory in the presence of Jesus.
What a legacy. I am thankful to have been apart of it and have my eyes opened to the goodness and rugged grace that was lived out before me. I am a better person for having known and loved my grandpa. And one day we'll be reunited for all eternity where we can continue to shoot the breeze and rest in each others' presence. Until that day, I will carry him in my heart and pray that my life teaches valuable lessons to those around me who are watching and listening. Don't take people for granted, invest your time into what matters, don't forget that it's never too late to make a change for the good, and pay attention to the Lord's goodness and provision in your life.
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