A page is turned
Last night a page was turned as my grandfather journeyed to his final home with the Lord. As I stood by his bedside I just kept praying that he would let go & go home to be with Jesus. His heart was so strong it just wouldn't quit beating. My Pappa has always been a physically strong man. A brick layer by trade, he was strong as an ox. In my eyes there wasn't anything he couldn't do. Last night, his breathing finally slowed & he was able to go on to his eternal home. He lived 88 years. For 58 of those years he was married to my Granny. Last night as he passed on Granny took his lifeless hand, wiped her tears away, kissed it & said goodbye. To see her love for him was amazing. And he loved her too. Always faithful & kind to her in every way. His was an example I was blessed to have.
For Pappa the story isn't over, but a page is turned. Years ago he changed our family tree by deciding to be a man of faith. Who knows who I would be or where I would be were it not for his faith that has shaped our family. I am grateful for his life & his spiritual leadership in our family. I only hope I can continue the great legacy he began.
I don't know what Heaven is like. My ideas about heaven continue to change. At one time it was a place where we would all gather at the stream of life that flows by the throne of God & we would worship for all eternity. Later, I kind of believed it was just a place of presence. Eternal existence & satisfaction found in the presence of God. Now, I kind of wonder if there's more to the story. If the adventures won't end but continue in the new heaven & new earth. If there's renewed purpose & life to be lived as the page is turned. I don't really know. And I don't know that it really matters. When John talked about Heaven in revelation he used the most elaborate terms he could come up with to express what he was seeing. My guess is that those words...streets of gold, pearly gates, etc...were still inadequate. Whatever Heaven is like I am satisfied to know & believe that we will all be there together with those that have gone before us to stand in the presence of Father God.
It's an interesting place to be in. I've never lost a loved one before. For the first time I'm experiencing death on a personal level. At the same time, my wife Alisha is 9 months pregnant with our first child. I'll be experiencing new life for the first time. We don't know if we'll have a boy or a girl. And the names are subject to change. But one thing I do know, our child will bear the name "Trevathan." And I am proud to pass on that name & that legacy to my children & to their children. A name that stands for integrity, faithfulness, service, compassion, hard work, believer in Jesus, sons & daughters of God.
Lucian Trevathan now joins a great cloud of witnesses to encourage us as we seek to live a life equal to his. A life that honored & glorified Jesus. A life that exemplified faithfulness & love. May we hold true to these things & may the legacy & the heritage of faith continue. I love you Pappa. Thank you for loving us & being the man of God you are. May we make you proud as we carry your name & the name of Christ. To God be glory. For the victory has been claimed in Christ Jesus.
3 comments:
So sorry for your loss. May it be said of us all, that we "lived a life that honored and glorified God."
Some time ago, Dad gave me the Bible that he said he bought when he decided to be serious about being a Christian. It is dated September of 1940. That was before his service in WWII, before he met mom and started his family. I greatly cherish having his old Bible, but more importantly, I cherish his decision and the legacy he left for us all. Love, Dad.
I lost my grandmother 9 years ago, and she was the presence in my life that introduced and allowed God to enter my heart. She is still so alive for me in many ways, but especially through my faith journey. I still miss being able to speak to her in person, sit with her in silence while sewing, or simply enjoying watching her observe life. However, I hope it will comfort you to know that that physical longing will truly subside and I pray that you will feel the wonderful closeness to your "Pappa" in death that I do for my "Nanny" on a daily basis. Everytime I take a step closer to God, read His word, watch my child grow in understanding and faith, I feel her presence and love. The gift of sharing/living by example an unshakable, childlike faith is the best gift you can receive and it keeps giving. It sounds like your grandfather gave you that gift as did my grandmother.
Yours in Christ,
Beth Smith
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