Thank you...

Plans change so quickly don't they? It's moments like these where Heaven invades our earth. Where eternity challenges our fleeting reality. I was supposed to speak at a church this Sunday, and on Thursday, God prompted a change to those plans. I began to think about Paw Paw's sickness, and I knew that if anything happened to him, I would regret not sharing some final words with him. I would never regret missing the opportunity to speak to strangers...but I would certainly regret getting one last chance to speak to the man I have loved all of my life. A hero in my journey.

So I praise God that on Friday, I was able to have a few moments alone with that hero. He watched me as I began to fumble through the expressions of my heart. As I searched for words, what kept coming forth was simply "thank you." Thank you for loving each of us in our own special way. Thank you for giving us tradition. Thank you for giving us each other. Thank you for giving us laughter. Thank you for all you taught us. Thank you for memories we will take into eternity. Thank you for giving us a heritage to be proud of. Thank you for giving us opportunities. Thank you for giving us provisions. Thank you for your time. Thank you for giving us a passion for life. Thank you for teaching me that a reader is a leader. Thank you for teaching me about investing. Thank you for your many, many hugs. Thank you for your back slaps. Thank you for scobbing our knobs. Thank you for taking us fishing. Thank you for taking us exploring. Thank you for the fun trips to Elberta in that little white Regal. Thank you for showing me that I should never put my mouth on an exhaust pipe. Thank you for my Swiss Army Knife. Thank you for rides in the back of that rickety old truck. Thank you for playing in the leaves with us. Thank you for your letters. Thank you for the joy you showed when 3 little kids would run and jump on your bed at midnight because they couldn't wait until the morning to see you. There is so much more to say thank you for, but simply put, thank you for giving us life.

Jesus, would you just tell my Paw Paw right now how much I love him? Show him just a glimpse of the glory You are getting because of a life well lived.