Closure
Well, gramp's funeral was yesterday. It was probably the best funeral I've been to (as good as a funeral can get, right?). Pastor made it so personal. First there were tears, then there was laughing, then more tears, then more laughing. I think my favorite part of it was when he explained how he'd been praying with grandpa these last couple of weeks and he could tell that his heart kept getting softer and softer for God. Last Friday (the day before he died) Pastor asked him 'Archie, do you know where you'd go if you were to die soon?' (or something on the lines of that). Gramps looked at him and said "Yes." And Pastor prayed with him one more time. I am sure that grandpa knew after that conversation that it was okay for him to let go. He died that night in his sleep. I honestly think that he was so assured that he knew Jesus and that he was going to heaven, so he let his weary and tired body go Home to Heaven. When Pastor shared that my heart pretty much melted. That is my desire for all of my family and relatives to know the Lord. To know that grandpa died with knowing Jesus is seriously the best news ever.
Another one of my favorite parts was the very last line Pastor said.
All through the service he'd tell stories of grandpa always being SO cold. We'd open the windows, grandpa would come along and shut them. We'd turn the heat down, gramps would turn it up as far as he could, etc. And how he'd always wear his long underwear--even in the summer. :) The funeral home was ROASTING hot. Everyone was fanning themselves during the service and the last line Pastor said was "And Archie's looking down from heaven saying "GOOD. That's how I wanted it!" Which is so true. :) That's just like gramps. His sense of humor! I will miss him. But it was such a good closure. He looked so peaceful laying in that casket. Family kept comforting each other when we were standing around the casket saying "he's dancing in heaven!" and other encouraging thoughts.
The last time I saw gramps before his death was when he was in so much pain. Every little move he made would hurt. That's all he could think of was how much pain he was in...and to see him lying there without worry or without pain...that comforted me knowing that he's in a new body in heaven! The best place for him.
Thank you to everyone for your prayers and for your thoughts. It's been tough, but I have so many great memories and so many great people to keep me lifted up! God is good.
Thanks again.
