Coffee Date Monday: Snowflakes and Sunshine

I arrived home from my week away with a package from my dear friend, Amanda. It was this beautiful mug.

Her note said that if she were with me, we would have some tea while I shared some memories of my grandfather. It is the perfect gift. And it inspired today's post.

This morning I made some coffee (not tea) in the mug and thought about what to write in this post.

My grandpa died about a week and a half ago...January 10. He lost a battle to cancer. But the preacher at his service said it well when he said, "He didn't loose the battle. He won. He is in heaven."

My grandpa was a quiet man with a huge heart.  His exterior might not have shown his huge heart because he could be a bit intimidating, wanting perfection, and many times hard to please because of it. He and his wife, my gramma, provided the needs for many in their family and many in the community. He may not have been the face of their giving, but he was the man behind it, providing the money for it and never saying "no" to a need, and sometimes wants, being met.


This past Sunday at church, a scripture was read that reminded me of Grandpa.

"Remember this - a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully. And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say, 'They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.' For God is the one who provides the seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God." 

2 Corinthians 9:6-11

Many have thanked God for the things Grandpa has done for them. And it was evidenced in the amount of people that came to his visitation. There was a line to the door the whole time. My family has been touched by the outpouring of love from those that knew grandpa.


Grandpa was good at a lot of things.  He worked for CSX railroad, retiring after 40+ years of service. He planned, built, and ran a golf course. He golfed, he played pool, he golfed, he played the guitar, he golfed, he built houses, and...he golfed. He passed up a chance to play on the PGA tour so that he wouldn't have to be away from his family. In my opinion, that is one of the most admirable things about him.

He loved his family. He loved me. He loved Cooper. While I have memories of him, the ones I cherish the most are the ones of him with Cooper. How he smiled at every story. How he fought with Cooper over who got the rocking chair. How he made sure there were oatmeal cream pies to share with Cooper when we visited. He made sure the swing was out and ready for Cooper to play with. He was quick to get the sprinkler and wagon out. And he soared with pride as he pulled Cooper behind him on the lawn mower. Gramma said that even 'til his last day he would still get a smile on his face if Cooper was mentioned.

 Grandpa's death has been hard on us all. Cooper included. Cooper was grandpa's buddy. And Cooper knew it. So this past week when we were in KY the absence of Grandpa was definitely felt. And it's a hard thing to try to explain to an almost 3 year old. There have been many questions the past couple of weeks of "where's grandpa?" "he's at the doctor?" "jesus fixes us?" "grandpa's in heaven?" "where is heaven?" "we're going to heaven now?"

love.

So happy to be with Grandpa.

There is hope - one day we will see Grandpa again. There is cause for celebration - Grandpa is now whole. My gramma has had a great perspective, and she has said it to me a few times in this process :"I don't wish him back. He is in the place we are all hoping to attain. He suffered so, but now he's free." She puts me in my place every time she says she wouldn't wish him back for anything. Wishing him back is wishing the pain and suffering for him for our own benefit.

Today's weather was perfect for this post. It has been snowing, but the sun has been shining. It's cold, and the temperatures have been downright miserable. But the sunshine is awesome and the snow is peaceful. Our grief and situation we are finding ourselves in is not great. It's dreary and at times downright miserable. But we have peace, and the sunshine reminds us of the warmth and comfort we have, knowing that Christ will one day bring us home like he did Grandpa.

So raise your coffee and toast to Grandpa, the life he lived, and the love he showed us all. And let's toast Gramma, too. I hope to hold myself with grace and dignity if faced with the death of Andrew the same way she has the love of her life.