Touched by Sadness

This afternoon, far away in Canada, our family is gathering for Grandpa B's funeral. We got word of his passing while we were in Moro Moro. Carl's parents weren't able to get through on the phones here at the office, so they emailed and called the Akron office, who then emailed all the staff here. Then by chance, a phone message from here was able to be left at the public phone in Moro Moro. Considering where we were, and the effort people made to get the information to us, learning of the news that day was remarkable.

That night, as we were soberly getting ready for bed, I didn't feel like sleeping quite yet. So both Carl and I pulled out our books to read. As I opened up The Shack to the page I was reading, this was the quote at the beginning of the chapter;

You can kiss your family and friends good-bye and put miles between you, but at the same time you carry them with you in your heart, your mind, your stomach, because you do not just live in a world but a world lives in you.
-Frederick Buechner

So we are here, and remembering our Grandpa. The kids were upset to hear that Great-Grandpa had died. Kezia especially had a real liking for her quiet Great-Grandpa. They were sad that they wouldn't see him and that Great-Grandma was alone now. It was hard to see them cry, but it was also healing for us all to be free to express our sorrow. The kids held his photograph and wanted to see more pictures of him on the computer.

This summer while we were home from Fresno, we went and spent Canada Day with Grandma and Grandpa. It was such a great day. Grandma had pulled out lots of great treats, of course. We talked with them about their year, about their friends, and about their health. The kids told them stories of California and sat on their lap. Afterwards, Grandpa quietly whispered to Joel and Kezia to come outside, and there he gave them a ride on the tractor. They talked about that for weeks. Looking back, we are so grateful for that day.

I think it's hard not being home for the funeral, because it's a time where family gathers to remember and to comfort each other. It feels a little undone to not be there. But with so many miles, it wasn't a possibility.

As we received condolences from fellow MCCers here and talked about our Grandpa, it was amazing to me how others opened up and shared about losing a grandparent, for many just a few short months ago. Many teared up as they talked because they too weren't able to go home for the funeral. In that moment of shared grief, we found comfort. We appreciated others opening up and being vulnerable to us in our time of sorrow. Maybe that was a way for us to have closure.

Grandpa was an amazing man. He was quiet and steady. When he said something, everyone stopped to listen and was moved in emotion or sometimes in laughter! The kids were drawn to him and enjoyed sitting on his lap for stories or just to sit and be. He was never in a hurry and always took time to talk. We knew that he supported all of his children, grandchildren, and great grand children by prayer. He was truly a man of God and a great example to all of us.

We are going to miss him dearly. But we know that one day we'll see him again in heaven.