No Greater Love - A Memory of Grandpa (Pawpaw)
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. - John 15:13
I don't have a very good memory. I wished I could remember more about my childhood or things that happened a few years ago or even months ago. But my brain does not retain information like that. But certain memories, the impactful ones last a life time.
The other day in Bible class the teacher mentioned how we would do anything for our kids. It was just a casual, even off-topic comment. But that comment lingered in my head and my eyes began to tear up because it brought forth a memory that comes up every now and then. There are certain things that I will never forget about when my Dad passed away. I will never forget singing hymns with family in his hospital room. I will never forget the note in my bible that says "Darin is my son." that Dad wrote to his friend in the hospital. I will never forget the standing-room only auditorium at our church for his funeral. I will never forget how the almost every in attendance gave us a hug when they came to the casket.
And I will never forget Pawpaw's reaction in the hospital. When facing the fact that his son might die because of problems with his lungs, Pawpaw's love shown at its brightest. Pawpaw decided that he would talk to the doctor's to see if there was any way that he could give his lungs to my Dad. Yep..his lungs..both of them. Memories like that stick with you forever. I am so blessed to have such a rich heritage and legacy to live up to. I am so blessed to have seen what love is by that moment in time.
I don't know if I had ever seen Pawpaw cry until that day. I remember him laughing as he showed off how he nailed his fingers together. I remember how he always had a joke to tell. I remember my favorite picture of him is of him down on his knees giving me and one of my brother's a horseback ride. But that one..the one where Pawpaw demonstrated a greater love that you seldom see will not be forgotten.
The main reason I usually have in writing this blog is that so when I go on to join Dad and Pawpaw, my kids and those I leave behind will be able to read my stories and memories and see a glimpse of who their Dad was. I hope their memories of me are as precious of my memories of those who preceded me.
For those of you who knew my Pawpaw, please feel free and even encouraged to leave a comment sharing some of your treasured memories.
I don't have a very good memory. I wished I could remember more about my childhood or things that happened a few years ago or even months ago. But my brain does not retain information like that. But certain memories, the impactful ones last a life time.
The other day in Bible class the teacher mentioned how we would do anything for our kids. It was just a casual, even off-topic comment. But that comment lingered in my head and my eyes began to tear up because it brought forth a memory that comes up every now and then. There are certain things that I will never forget about when my Dad passed away. I will never forget singing hymns with family in his hospital room. I will never forget the note in my bible that says "Darin is my son." that Dad wrote to his friend in the hospital. I will never forget the standing-room only auditorium at our church for his funeral. I will never forget how the almost every in attendance gave us a hug when they came to the casket.
And I will never forget Pawpaw's reaction in the hospital. When facing the fact that his son might die because of problems with his lungs, Pawpaw's love shown at its brightest. Pawpaw decided that he would talk to the doctor's to see if there was any way that he could give his lungs to my Dad. Yep..his lungs..both of them. Memories like that stick with you forever. I am so blessed to have such a rich heritage and legacy to live up to. I am so blessed to have seen what love is by that moment in time.
I don't know if I had ever seen Pawpaw cry until that day. I remember him laughing as he showed off how he nailed his fingers together. I remember how he always had a joke to tell. I remember my favorite picture of him is of him down on his knees giving me and one of my brother's a horseback ride. But that one..the one where Pawpaw demonstrated a greater love that you seldom see will not be forgotten.
The main reason I usually have in writing this blog is that so when I go on to join Dad and Pawpaw, my kids and those I leave behind will be able to read my stories and memories and see a glimpse of who their Dad was. I hope their memories of me are as precious of my memories of those who preceded me.
For those of you who knew my Pawpaw, please feel free and even encouraged to leave a comment sharing some of your treasured memories.
posted by D Love at 6:55 PM
1 comments
