Miss you...

It’s hard to believe that today marks one year since Grandpa Rip passed away. So much has happened and changed since that time. At this point last year, we were spending almost every day at the hospital waiting for him to pull out of it like he always had done before. I don’t think that any of us thought he would actually pass away… ever. He had survived so many things that it just seemed like another obstacle he was going to overcome.

When I talked to Grandpa Jerry after he had passed, he told me that it’s different for them at that stage in their life – that there is no fear of death when they know they’re on their way to meet their Savior. I think that any fighting he did, he did for us – even though he probably wanted nothing more than to go home to see Jesus.

That Sunday morning Staci sang a song in church called “Enough”. We had stayed up really late the night before learning it and when we were at the hospital that next day, I kept thinking we should sing it to him since he didn’t get to go to church to hear it. We didn’t end up doing it – but every time I hear that song now, it reminds me of him. This morning on my way to work it came on the radio just as I was thinking about the significance of today and was missing him. The more I think about it, the more I think the words describe what might have been going through his mind at that time – and why God finally gave him rest. Even though he didn’t hear us sing it to him – I think he was singing his own version of the song… in that one great note that he loved to hum in.

All of You is more than enough for All of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You
Is more than enough

You are my supply
My breath of life
Still more awesome than I know
You are my reward
Worth living for
Still more awesome than I know

You're my sacrifice of greatest price
Still more awesome than I know
You're my coming King, You're everything
Still more awesome than I know

All of You is more than enough for All of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You
Is more than enough

How amazing that he now knows the awesomeness of God – that he has been in His presence. I can’t wait to see Grandpa again – to introduce him to our little one, to give him a hug and tell him that I love him and missed him. But I wouldn’t take away what he has now for anything – and I know he’ll be waiting to share it with us when it’s our time.

Until then... we sure do miss you, Grandpa.