A picture of A picture

I feel like I remember so much about my grandparents but especially him because he was around the longest. He was the humblest man I think I will ever meet. A wise friend (Ian Dierden)once said " You may spend a lot of time listening but how much time do you spend just being. God calls us to camp before we move on as individuals or a family." Papa was the best example of being. Lao people do this well too but us Americans are so busy I find most people forget to. He waited 10 years without his wife so that he could bless us unselfishly and see us grow. The night before he died he was talking to my cousin Christy who was pregnant and said " I really want to live to see my great grand baby but I miss your Grandma too." He had quotes everywhere but rarely spoke but wrote reminders on the backs of so many things. Two of my favorites that my dad read at his funeral are

1.From Patrick Henry Last Will and Testament "I have now disposed of all my property to my family. There is one thing more I wish I could give them, and that is faith in Jesus Christ. If they had that and I had not given them one shilling, they would be rich. And if I had not given them that, and had given them all the world they would be poor indeed.

2.On Papa's office wall there was the quote "Jesus paid a debt He didn't owe- because we had a debt we couldn't pay." Below it he had typed using his keyboard "He paid a debt he didn't owe, I owed a debt I could not pay. I needed someone to wash my sins away. And now I sing a brand new song -Amazing Grace- Christ paid a debt that I could never pay."

This poem I wrote the day Papa after Papa died.

Papa's gone to heaven

To be where the angels sing

Nana's waiting by his side

Wearing his golden ring

She smacks him on the back and loudly says "I've been waiting for you Eugene."

With that he chuckles

Oh Martha we all know the things we've both seen

But those don't even begin to describe this celestial peace

From physical to spiritual being

Those on earth sit back and dream

But little do they know

That diamond in the rough

That ended years ago

That jewel that sparkled

Never forgotten

If only they had gotten

If only they had known

And then he paused

With that the teacher then replied "The earth is not our home."

Our ways may change

Our abilities

But the love we leave behind is our truest legacy

Then the postman responded

Knowing that the heart does not ache

Due to ones fate

But knows what is right, just, honorable and does accordingly

Living under God's rules

On heaven or on earth

That is what makes

Life have value

Life have worth

And with that they grasped arms

Walking into God's gate of light

His presence their coat of arms that penetrated them through

With that Martha set her head on his shoulder and replied

Oh Eugene I love you, always have, always will

Oh you don't know how I've been waiting for you

And with that Papa replied

"Oh but I do

My prayers are no longer postage stamps

Sent through heavenly mail

But once again they rest on my shoulder

Thanks to all of Gods love, grace and care

This retired postman sits with his postmaster

And the greatest invitation from disaster

With that she kissed him

And they were off

No more did I see

But I could hear the angels sing the words "Glory, Glory"

Before I drifted back to reality

I'm not sure where this was taken but I found this picture of us the other day. Yesterday I carried it with me and probably will today too. Yes it is a picture of a picture, but if you read below that is what I hope to be to you. Last night at BSF I thought I had lost it and ran back inside as they were locking up. A lady was so kind as to ask if everything was okay I began to cry and said I lost the picture of my grandfather who died for years ago around today. She helped me look and even went back to me to my car to look through all my stuff. We didn't find it. Then I opened my notes notebook and there it was. I ran back inside to show her and she was so sweet about it. She had taken my group leaders and my name. She never treated me like it was stupid and although we were strangers she treated me with dignity. When someone had asked what is going on she replied "She lost something important to her and we are trying to find it." This is just one of the reasons I love BSF. Last night as the speaker spoke all of this is what was on my mind but I am so thankful for a place to go where no matter your background you are accepted and can learn more. For while it gives me great knowledge their is compassion met too and grace. Then she waited as I walked back to my car and made sure I got in safely. A stranger cared for me.

Why do you say all this? Well, because no matter where you are you can be a picture of a picture of Christ to others. You see?