LIFE

It's been a while since I have posted. Some of it was due to the busyness of life. I was able to travel out to see Andrew in Iowa with my parents (kind of unexpectedly).....which was really nice! And then my Grandpa took a turn health wise.

The past couple of weeks he struggled with pneumonia and congestive heart failure. He was in ICU for 4 days, then put in Hospice care. Last Friday he went to be with the Lord. And while it's very sad, as they said at the funeral: He's been promoted to Glory! It really is a huge step up for him. I vividly remember Mom telling Grandma that he's now dancing and has both legs back. Then on Sunday our first two worship songs were about dancing before the Lord....it was awesome!

As I surveyed the room at his service, I realized how many lives Grandpa had affected. All the stories people told me about how he helped with this and that, both in the community and with individuals. And how tenacious he was and that he didn't take "no" for an answer. He had vision and he was a leader! But things were never about him. He wasn't one to take glory or bask in recognition. He simply moved on to the next thing he saw that needed done.

The visitation and service were really nice, with full changing of the guard by his casket. The Pastor and my mom gave great messages about how Grandpa had gone to church when he was younger, but didn't really accept Jesus into his heart until he was 89 years old. Praise God he was given a long life! We don't all get that long to decide. The service ended with a Fireman's 3 bells over the city radio system. And the processional to the cemetery was led by firetrucks draped with black and several police cars in front, beside us and behind us.

It was so interesting as we drove to the cemetery, people came running from houses and businesses to check it out..........as though it were a parade they hadn't heard was coming. One boy about 12 years old didn't even take the time to get both shoes on. I chuckled at that.

All traffic stopped. All intersections blocked. And then as we passed one intersection I noticed a lady at a car wash alongside the street. She had one of those giant hoses to vacuum her car and was wrestling it to her car...........and she didn't even glance up. Life truly goes on all around us. People glance for a moment, and then they move on.

And we all should move on. Even with our sadness of missing one we love, it's really all about LIFE. What it should make us do, is make sure every single moment of our lives counts.

What are you doing today that makes life better for someone? Did you invite your friend, neighbor or waitress to church? Did you offer someone a ride to the store? Did you send a handwritten note card reminding someone how much you care and are thankful for them? Did you call someone you haven't seen in forever, just to say hello? Did you clean your closet and take the excess to charity so that someone in need can also have something nice and affordable?

Change a LIFE around you today! :) And please leave me a comment on what you did. Or are planning to do.