Reflections of a grandfather's life

I just got back in town from Rogers Arkansas. My grandfather passed away this past weekend and that is where we attended the funeral. The funeral was emotional, but not especially difficult for me. My grandfather was either 83 or 84 and had lived a long life. More importantly my grandfather made his life count! He lived with a joy and a spirit that infected all those that he came in contact with. He valued the things that matter most. Namely, his relationship with Christ and his relationship with others.

The funeral got me to thinking about a couple of conversations that I have had with some of you and I wanted to send these thoughts in reflection on those conversations and as a way to put this school year into perspective:

What matters most: I am not sure what my grandfather would have said was the measure of a successful life if you had asked him, but I do know how he was remembered. During the open mic time at the funeral not one person said anything about his financial accomplishments or any position that he had attained. Some mentioned that he served in WWII, and as a postal inspector, but neither were what he was remembered for. My grandfather left behind lives that had been changed by his joy and his selfless service. I couldn’t help but realize that our world says it values status, power and money, but when it comes to the end of one’s life even the world recognizes that these are the things that matter least!! Sounds cliché to say, but how many of us live with the clarity of that statement? How would you define success or significance? A good question to ask of life, but also a good question to ask of this school year. What does a successful school year or life look like, and how would you measure your significance at the end of the school year or your life?

Significance: My grandfather’s significance did not come from leading others from a position of power. The power of his life came from serving others! He changed the lives of others because he found that the lives of others would be changed from power under rather that power over. Do you want to have influence in the life of another person? How are you serving that person?

Calm: There were a number of comments about my grandfathers calmness. I was told that “I am not sick” were basically his last words. My G-dad (that is what we called him) was not ignorant of what was going on around him, but he had a sense of joy and peace that had to come from his faith. I will remember him as a whistler, a laugher and a joker. My G-dad controlled that which was his to control (and he liked to control that part), but was willing to let go of that which he could not control. What are you holding on to that you need to let go of? How long will you let that thing rob you of the joy of life?

I could go on, but don’t want to take up too much space or muddy the point I am trying to make. My biggest desire for each of you is that you would not waste your life living for something that is not worth living for or is of temporal significance at best!