Adam:
Dad…
As I sit here with you on your last days on earth I’m reminded of our human fragility of course physically but also in our minds and hearts. Our spirit is weak if not strengthened, our souls long for more. For connection, for fulfillment in life through relationship with the Creator. If you got one thing right, I saw you in the morning, and at night, strengthening your spirit…practicing the disciplines. Meeting Him there. I don’t know if this is something you can learn without failure first. I’m saddened by time lost. Time spent trying to fill that void with the desires and goals of the world. I’ve missed the point entirely until now. This life, our stories, are merely a small chance to honor Him as the hero in His greater story. The story of beautiful creation, and fall, and rescue, to union of the relationship and restoration of the soul and all things made new. In this dark night the soul longs to be home. We desire to be in the Father’s arms and to feel no pain. I am happy for you to see His face. I will miss you, your guidance, your wisdom, your friendship. Your lessons and values have new meaning to me as I have come into the light. My soul desires to be known by the Father. I will pursue Him in practicing the way that He may then strengthen my spirit and I will dwell with you in the house of the Lord forever.
I Love you Dad.
H
ROMANS 12
A Living Sacrifice to God
1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. 3 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. 4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. 6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. 9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13 When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! 17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. 19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord. 20 Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” 21 Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.
Kayla:
Poppi,
As the wife of your first born it has been a gift to experience your love and wisdom. Your heart for the Lord is so evident in how you’ve lived your life, spent your time loving on your family and investing in those around you…your tenderness and sensitivity to us has meant the world.
The way you sit down on the floor with our boys to get into their world and make vehicle noises and sing silly songs just to connect makes my heart smile. I love how you call out the strengths in my boys and encourage them. And we all know there’s nothing like a Poppi hug.
Your love for nature and seeing God’s beauty in the flowers as the ultimate creator will always be remembered.
I love that you and I share a love for fragrant aromas, chocolate (Sees candy), hiking, a clean house, and the leaf blower.
I love that you named Adam with such intention and spoke over his life with eternal perspective. I see your prayers now coming to fruition in his life as he carries on your legacy.
It’s hard not to regret taking advantage of the wisdom you had sooner. I feel like your time here was cut way too soon and we selfishly wanted more. I will be forever grateful though for the sweet moments we shared the last few months. I loved hanging out in your room listening to sermons and discussing them with you. Hearing you read your favorite chapter in the Bible (Romans 12) out-loud to Adam and I while Adam painted your bedroom door. Sitting around the kitchen table sharing what God was teaching all of us in this season.
I’ll never forget in your last days here as your soul was transitioning into eternity you reached out and grabbed my hand and looked me in the eyes as if you saw something beautiful in my soul and were saying goodbye. It felt like the longest minutes of the closure we both needed.
I love you dearly Poppi. I’ll miss you more than you know…it’s the greatest reassurance to know you’re with Jesus now.