Mamaw, Keith, Kathy, Barry, Tammy, Tim-
It’s strange how God works. He is at work all around us, and we know because of His word, and certain curcumstances around us that His ways are mysterious. It would have been great to see him one more time and tell him that I love Him. Instead, I am stuck with trusting Papaw remembered those words wispered in his ear just 11 months ago.
Over the past 8 or 9 years I loved a man who loved his family. On the surface Papaw smiled and laughed and danced and joked. But underneathe, he was hurting. Way way in the back of his eyes you could see regret. Papaw like all of us was haunted by the past of hurt, pain and shame. Life is full of difficulty, struggles and dissapointments. As Papaw grew older, he also grew wiser, and the Lord began to soften a hardened shell. Last Christmas Eve I heard many things come from Papaw’s mouth. He cried, and loved, and searched for joy, but the one thing I rememeber most was this…when I mentioned to him about taking all his cares to the Lord in prayer, he assured me He prayed for each one [in this room] every day. I know that when we cry out to the Lord, he hears us. I also know that Papaw loved me like he loved you, and that if we could hear him say 4 more words I know what they would be. Do you?
“I love my family”!
I didn’t know the Papaw who made mistakes. I just knew the Papaw who regreted them and didn’t know how to get passed them. The memory of leaving Mamaw and Papaw’s house last Christmas Eve hugging him around his Clevland Browns sweat shirt trying to get my arms around him will be with me forever. He held me tight, and told me to take care. I am sorry for the loss and can only offer scricpture as a comfort.
Psalm 3:3
“But you O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the Lord, and he anwsered me from his holy hill.”
