Had he still been alive today, this day would mark my grandfather's 90th year on this planet. However, the Lord called him Home at the age of 72 back in the summer of 1991. I still think of my grandfather a few times a week; usually when the bad days take my emotions for a ride. He was an amazing man, a devoted family man, but an even greater example of what it meant to be a Christian. When I was a little boy, I remember always being around his church. When your grandfather is Pastor and a founding member of your particular church, you tend to have bragging rights among all your other friends. I remember one summer; around my 15th or 16th one; I took a "class" with 'Rev. James' (Pop to me) over what it meant to truly be a Christian and a champion for God. For those of you out there who throw scriptures out to me and smile when I tell you the book, chapter, and verse; it's because of Pop's teaching. "How can you tell people about the beauty in this Book if you don't know it yourself?" That was one of his favorites. Anyways, this class of his didn't really consist of any grading scale. It only had one pupil; me. It didn't involve a classroom; only the community of people who lived nearby, and it only had one book (The Holy Bible). For a month, I met him at the church at 5:00 every morning. We would eat breakfast together, and then he'd say, "watch this, Jay" (only person besides my mother to call me that, and I miss it so much). I would watch, as my grandfather would leave enormous amounts of tip money. Sometimes, I would catch a glimpse of the waitresses' expressions as we left the restaurants. Whenever I asked my grandfather why he did it, he'd just smile and say that it truly wasn't ever his money anyways. You couldn't take it with you, so there was no sense in being stingy with it.
After breakfast, the real "class" began. Its focus was acts of kindness; randomly done to strangers who least expected it. When you are like my grandfather, and seem to know everyone, you learn who needs assistance and what kind of aide they need. So, I mowed a lot of yards that summer. I put away a lot of groceries. I even bought some groceries for complete strangers with, what else, my grandfather's money.
Every summer of my youth involved that old country church and my grandfather's "good deeds," but that one summer was very special to me. "Hey, Jay," my grandfather always said to me, "tell me about the Good Samaritan." I then proceeded to tell him, for the 50th, 100th, 200th time, what he already knew. "Good, " he'd say, "now let's go do it."
These days, I find a lot less Good Samaritans, but I know they are still out there. They are the people who stop to visit strangers in a nursing home. They are the ones who reach into the far corners of the Earth through missionary work. They are the ones who just answer to God's call; whatever He asks of them. You don't have to do physical work to be a Good Samaritan. It's giving of yourself when you just know it's right; what you know the Lord would want you to do in a situation. If you haven't heard the story, as my grandfather would say, "look it up!"
Luke 10: 25-37
I got a lot of things from my grandfather. I got his name (although our "B" is different). People say I have his eyes. Out of all I've gotten from him in life, I like to think that I have gotten his kindness. I also got one more thing from him. I'm a big tipper. You can't take it with you, and it was never really mine.
Those who knew Pop knew that he loved to challenge people religiously. I already mentioned it with the Scripture verses. Everytime I read the Bible, I can't help but think of him and his yearning for me to really get closer to Jesus. So, if you're reading this, I challenge you. Do you really know this Book you're reading? Although I am a full-time 10th grade History teacher, I also am a "part-timer" at a local college teaching a religious history course. Every year, I challenge my students. "How well do you know The Bible?" Most of the time, I am amazed at how uneducated these young Christians are when it comes to the most important Book they will ever read. I can't help it; that's my grandfather in me. "You wouldn't perform surgery without knowing how to do it, would you?" There are daddies out there who may be training their sons to be baseball players, football players, rock stars, or billionaires. I am training Aaron to be a man for God. I want his "championship" won to be for His Kingdom. The rest will all wash away anyways.
Happy Birthday, Pop! I so wish Katie and Aaron could have met you. I can't wait for that chance in Heaven. Hug Gracie for me.
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2 comments:
No wonder you are such a Godly man, it just rolls off of you. Your grandfather has taught you well! I am just hungry for a good Bible study. My children are in a private Catholic school, and the school is absolutely amazing: not only do they provide a top-notch academic education, but the word of God is taught in both text and deed. But the downside is that our parish is less than inspiring. I know this school is where my children belong, God pointed the way directly (that's a tale for another day) but I am starting to hunger for a worship that is alive.
Anyways, thank you for sharing your Pop's birthday with us! And I am praying for both you and Kate as you get ready to teach. My sister teaches kindergarten, it is truly a calling. God bless you and yours- Ann from Chicagoland
What an absolutely beautiful post! Although I had wonderful grandfathers, my favorite grandpa story comes from my Grandfather-in-law. Right before his death, as his health was failing quickly, he made a phone call to each of his grandchildren (11 in all). He 1st talked to them and then to each of their spouses. When it was my turn he explained the purpose of his call. He said that before he went to see his Lord, he wanted to be certain that he had finished his work here. He asked to hear my testimony from my own lips. He wanted assurance that each of his children & grandchildren knew Christ and would spend eternity with him.
Grandpa's health was poor when I met my husband so I only had the chance to meet him 3 or 4 times, but that phone call has stayed with me for the past 15 years or so. It reminded me as a young wife, before I became a mother, of what my highest calling is: to bring my children (and someday grandchildren) to salvation and then service to the Lord.
Thank you for re-reminding me not to get so busy with the day-to-day that I forget to keep an eternal perspective.
Dawn
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