 |
| My grandpa holding me as a baby |
My grandpa Danny was a charming, charismatic, and witty man. He had an infectious laugh and would light up the room as soon as he walked in it. When he would come and visit we’d sit around the table for hours after breakfast each morning talking and laughing while he told stories, the same stories he told over and over. Like the time he brought a squirrel to school and it ran up Mrs. Boyd’s dress or when he took his sister Sherry out into the cornfield and lost her or when his father was the boy scout leader and he and his brother Andy were always getting into trouble. With 6 kids there was always mischief, but he loved his parents and siblings dearly.
Grandpa also loved to joke and have a
good time. One of his favorite things to
do was tease others. And one of his
favorite people to tease was my brother.
And once grandpa had something to tease you about he never let it
go. Like the time Nick went to go on a
run at a track behind one of grandpa’s houses and he came back a short while
later and grandpa forever teased him about his 5 minute workouts. Or when my brother and cousin were trying out
different churches, he teased them about going to all the different churches and
converting to different religions just to pick up chicks.
When I think about the memories, I am
reminded of the trips we would take over the summer to visit grandpa here in
San Antonio. He would take us shopping
at Fredericksburg, to the River Walk, Alamo, Fiesta Texas, Sea World and we
also spent several summers at the lake on his boat.
My grandpa had the best of everything
so naturally when my brother and I came to visit we were like two bulls in a
china cabinet. Grandpa had to teach us
how to sit down on his leather couch without pushing it back and scuffing up
the wall, how to place the shower curtain so that water wouldn’t leak out all
over his floor, how to not rile up his dog and get him running around the
house, and he also told us to leave the accordion wall mirror in the bathroom
alone. One day I was sitting in the
living room when I heard Nick quietly whisper my name, “Kristy” “Kristy” “Come here” I walked around the
corner to see the small wall mirror stretched out all the way into the
hallway. Nick wanted to see how far he
could stretch the mirror and had it pulled out so far that it had gotten stuck
and wouldn’t go back in. “Grandpa is going to kill you!” I said. Thankfully we got it pulled back inside, but
we still never heard the end of it.
 |
| Grandpa and my brother, Nick, going for a ride on his Harley |
One time grandpa took us to Fiesta
Texas Six Flags. I was afraid to ride
the Rattler roller coaster. He was
trying so hard to convince me to ride that he finally made a deal with me that
he would later live to regret. Back in
the day, Doc Martin sandals were REALLY cool and I REALLY wanted a pair. They were the really chunky sandals that
literally weighed like ten pounds. So
not really knowing what they were, he told me that he’d buy the sandals for me
if I’d just ride with him. I no longer
needed convincing because I would do anything to have them. So, we jumped in line and successfully rode
the roller coaster together. The next day
he sent Kathy and I to the mall to get them.
He handed her a $50 and I said “Ummm that’s not going to cut it.” He said, “How much are these sandals?” I said they were over $100! “$100 for sandals?!!” "I could make them for that!" He was going to back out and I said nope a
deal’s a deal. Needless to say I got
the shoes, but I never heard the end of it!
Years later, he was still convinced I conned him into buying me those
sandals by pretending I had a fear of roller coasters! That was our relationship. I challenged him. I called him out. He would often tease and tell me to just be quiet because he didn’t like the sassy truth I was laying out for him. We enjoyed the banter between one another.
But I also know that grandpa was
incredibly proud of me. He was there for
me during the big moments in my life like when I graduated college and when I
got married. Dancing together at my
wedding was one of my fondest memories. "Love
Shack" was a sentimental song that we had sang many times over the years, so when
it came on at my reception dancing to it with him made it extra special.
 |
| A trip we took to see Grandpa after his diagnosis |
I called grandpa the last week of his
life to tell him I loved him and would see him again someday in Heaven. I wanted him to have peace and to no longer
suffer or be in pain. And I know that as
soon as Grandpa took his last breath here on Earth, God finally took that pain
away. He took away the disease and made
him whole again.
I want everyone here this morning to
know that there will be pain that we experience in this life that could never
have answers this side of heaven. Pain
so devastating that it leaves us questioning how God could ever allow such a
thing to happen. Some of us so broken
that we question if God is even real.
But our promise is made clear in John
16:33 when Jesus says “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in
me. Here on earth you will face many trials
and sorrows. But take heart, because I
have overcome the world.”
I know that this disease shattered
grandpa. It robbed him of living out the
final years of his life here on this earth with his loved ones. I also know
that as I look out across this crowd today, many of us have also been
shattered. Shattered by the loss of a
husband, a father, a grandfather, a brother, and a dear friend. Shattered by grief, deep pain,
disappointment, and loss.
Famous author and speaker, Lysa
Terkeurst, once shared that sometimes the pain in our life can shatter us to
pieces. Pieces so broken that we see no
way of putting them back together.
Pieces so shattered that all that remains is dust. And when our human minds see dust we think it’s
over. There’s no possible way that we or
even God could ever find a way to put it back together.
Yet what we don’t realize is that
dust is one of God’s favorite ingredients! Because it was dust he used to create mankind. It was dust mixed with his saliva that healed
a blind man’s eyes. In the dust of the ground he wrote with his finger to challenge
the condemning crowd that those without sin to cast the first stone. And it was
the same dust that he washed off the very disciples’ feet that would go on to deny
and betray him the night he was crucified.
God uses dust to create beautiful
things, to teach powerful lessons, and to remind us all that we are NOT a lost
cause.
 |
| The statue that stands outside of Cornerstone Church where grandpa's funeral was held. I don't believe this statue was any coincidence to the words in my speech of Jesus washing the dust off of Peter's feet. |
Dust does not signify the end,
but rather a beginning.
Dust is the very
ingredient that a potter can mix with water to make clay. Isaiah 64:8 explains that God is our creative
potter, “And yet, O LORD, you are our Father.
We are the clay, and you are the potter.
We are all formed by your hand.”
As Grandpa sits at the feet of Jesus
this morning, I believe with all of my heart, that he would want his family and
friends to know that our time here on earth is fleeting. I believe he would challenge us this side of
heaven to be humble and kind. To love
and show mercy. To apologize and
forgive. And more than anything that we
would let God have our dust so that he
can make something beautiful out of our lives while we are still here on this
earth.
Because at the end of our life, when we slip from this broken, sin-filled world into a perfect eternity, it will
be the only thing that EVER truly mattered.
I stand here with hope this morning because
I know exactly where my grandpa is and I know that someday I will see him again
soon.
I love you grandpa and I’m
thankful for your love, for the laughs, but most importantly the lessons you’ve
taught me in this life.
No comments:
Post a Comment