This has been a week of the unexpected. As I write this I am sitting and watching it snow.....in Houston....on December 4th. The earliest snowfall in Houston's history I am told. For a San Diego girl like me it is still nothing short of a white miracle. The quiet of the snow falling brings a sense of warmth and a reflective mood to me today.
As my kids begin dating, I have been thinking back to when Robert and I first met. Meeting his parents and being introduced as his "friend" probably until we were engaged. His mom has always been "Pat" to me, never a hesitation. My relationship with his dad was a little more awkward - at least when it came to names - I don't know why.
After we were married and I would call his parent's house, I would announce "this is Karen calling" whenever his dad answered. If he called us and I answered he always would "hi, Karen it's me". I would reply "hi me". I always knew who "me" was.
As the years passed I slowly began calling him John and he would identify himself as same. John soon became "Grandpa John" and I got to witness him in a new role - that as grandfather. We would smile each time they would come to take the kids out to dinner or for an outing announcing to the kids before they'd head out the door "did you bring your money?". It was obvious to all that family and faith were the priorities in his life. He and Pat would always have flannel graph story presented every Christmas - it was a great tradition that spoke the priority of Christ's birth. It would always end with him reading from the book of Luke and a birthday cake to Jesus.
The snow was not the first unexpected thing to arrive this week. The phone call Thursday morning that John had passed away was the first. Though he has been battling Alzheimer's for years and we knew the day was coming soon - it still seemed too soon. I heard that my niece prayed Thursday that "Grandpa would have a great day". Little did we know that he would have his very best day of all - relieved of suffering and with his saviour.
Earlier this week we had celebrated the first Sunday of Advent. Our daughter reminded us the message was of comfort. Obviously God knew we would need this reminder this week.
John is now surrounded by the joy of being with those who have gone before and we have the assurance we will see him again. I imagine one day when God calls me there will be someone approach and say "hi it's me".
Romans 8:17-18 "Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."
