Tribute 7

I still remember the time so vividly when I was younger, and we were coming home from Georgia.  It was pouring down rain, and traffic had slowed to a crawl along the highway.  Most of us were dozing as we watched the water stream down the windows.  Suddenly, without saying anything, Pop swerved over to the shoulder of the road and put the car in park.  I popped-up from the back seat to see what was going on.  We never pulled off to the side of the road due to heavy rain, in fact sometimes we sped-up.  There was a car parked on the shoulder of the road in front of us with its four-ways on, and it was leaning precariously toward the one side.  Leaving the car running, Pop opened his door and slowly walked up to the car.  I could see him talking to whoever was sitting in the car, and they handed him something.  He walked around to the rear of their car and opened the trunk.  Moving some things around, he pulled out the spare tire and jack, and took them around the side of the car.  Over the next few minutes, Pop’s hands worked like a well-oiled machine as he threw the jack under the car and raised it into the air.  He swapped the flat tire out with a new inflated tire, and making sure that all the bolts were tightened, he lowered the car.  He placed the flat tire, and jack, neatly back in their trunk, shut the lid, and walked back to their window.  I could see him shaking his head, and simply extending his hand for a handshake.  Opening the driver’s door of our car, he slid into his seat soaking wet.  Mom handed him a t-shirt that we had found laying on the floor, and he wiped his face, looked in the side mirror, and pulled back out into traffic.

That is a simple example of how Pop lived his life.  His love for others radiated in everything that he did, and dictated his actions.  This love that he showed had been learned.  Pop’s love, and life, were influenced by the example that he found in Christ, and the love that he experienced from that relationship.

The day after Pop passed away, we opened his Bible and it fell open to a verse that he had highlighted many years ago, and one that meant a great deal to him.  Interestingly enough, it a verse that had significant influence on Joel during his time in Australia, before we knew of Pop’s illness.  The verse is Phillipians 1:21:  “To live is Christ, to die is gain.”  These words were written by the Apostle Paul when he was imprisoned.  Paul didn’t know whether he would live or die, but he was confident, and hopeful in either outcome.  The same rang true in Pop’s life.  The love that was shown to him by Christ, propelled him to live in such a way that was honoring to Him.  He found joy in serving, and life in loving others.  Whether it was washing dishes, building houses, riding bike, or caring for his family, Pop did it to the very best of his ability as if doing it for the Lord. 

And he did it with so few words.  Rather than talking about what he felt he should do, he did it.  He lived his life as an example.  Many of the ways that he touched each one of our lives was through his actions, not his words.  He allowed Christ to work through him to show love, compassion, peace, strength, and humility. 

Through this whole experience, an amazing testimony was the fact that Pop never feared death.  He wanted to fight this disease with all his strength, and believed full-well that Christ could miraculously take his disease away, but ultimately he wanted to see God glorified, and he wasn’t afraid to die.  Walking along-side of him, I was in awe of his courage and peace.  How could he face death with a smile on his face, and gratefulness in his heart?  I’ve found that Pop understood the part of Philippians 1:21, “to die is gain.”  He didn’t want to leave us, but he also knew the joy of what awaited him.  The neatest thing is that we can all have that same hope.  When we know Christ as our savior there is nothing we have to fear, not even death itself.  Rather, death is a home-going.  One of the most beautiful gifts of knowing Christ, is getting to spend eternity with him. 

So, for Pop, living for Christ meant becoming His hands here on earth.  His actions spoke volumes of the God he served, and exemplified the love that he had for people.  But, when it came time for him to say goodbye to life on this earth, he gained more than we can fathom. 

We can’t thank you enough Pop for teaching us all that you could in your time here.  Thank you for teaching us to work hard, and to love others.  To show grace, and to be a friend.  To find our foundation in a relationship with the Maker who sacrificed it all.  Thank you for being a father, a best friend, a neighbor and a colleague.  You taught us how to live…and in the end…you taught us how to die. 

We will miss you Pop, but you are never far from us; and we will see you again soon.