Dear PawPaw,
I don’t have many childhood memories that don’t include you. I mean, since Mama and Papa weren’t sure they could take care of twin newborns, I spent my first two weeks of life at your house. I loved that house and how much warmth and affection you filled it with. I didn’t mind the spoiling either. Spending the night with you and Grandma was always a treat. And I giggle every time you tell the story of you trying to sneak quietly to get ready for work – long before the sun came up – only to have my sister and I appear right behind you when Grandma started breakfast.
I loved to go camping with you in state parks. From you I learned how to fish, play Uno and put peanuts in Dr. Pepper. And I don’t imagine many college students bring their friends to hang out with the grandparents, but I sure did. Old roommates, church friends and a bunch of rowdy rednecks (boy, what a phase that was) all sat at your feet and enjoyed your hospitality. I considered you one of the kindest and most non-judgmental people I ever knew. When I had a chance to take a class at Baylor with a former preacher from your church, I disclosed our common connection. He told me that you and my dad’s dad were the finest men in that church. Even though we are both much older and neither living in the same town, some things stay the same.
The origin story of the dresser you have in your room delights me every time I hear it. Grandma told it to me once and my Mama repeats it when I ask her to. Things were tight the first year you married. A job at the cement plant making 25 cents an hour and a baby on the way left little financial margin. When you promised each other to save your money instead of exchanging Christmas presents, you couldn’t keep that promise to your new bride. Every morning Grandma packed your lunch and asked if you wanted a thermos or a nickel for a cold drink. You always chose the nickel, but saved them all and presented her with a chest of drawers that Christmas. Nothing fancy, but I don’t think she loved anything more except you. If I got anything in the story wrong, I would relish hearing it again.
You may not have come from much, but you used a little to build quite a legacy. The way you loved Grandma set an example for my parents, for me and now for my children. I could not count how many times you’ve said, “She was everything a man could want.” or “She was some woman.”
Your welcoming and accepting spirit blazed a trail ahead of your time. To my recollection there was not a need, once known, that you didn’t try to meet. You will one day have a line of people in heaven waiting to thank you for your generosity, your love, your kind attention and your service to God’s kingdom. But for now, I rejoice that you are still with us, loving us as only a PawPaw can.
I want to close with the words of a note from Grandma lovingly placed in your lunchbox. It tickles me that you still carry it in your wallet, even though she went to her eternal reward 25 years ago. “You are very special to me and have given me a good life.” My sentiments exactly.
I Love You,
Lauren
I thought, ‘Those who are older should speak,
for wisdom comes with age.’ Job 32:7 NLT
And now for this week’s featured post!
I had the toughest time EVER selecting a feature this week. So many beautiful posts. So in the end, my heart strings pulled me to the help I need right now. How to Find God’s Comfort in the Hard Middle hit me in the soft underbelly of my own grief and waiting. It’s the spots where I have no physical resource that challenge my patience and faith the most, but Sarah Geringer reminds us that prayer and trust in the Lord lead to growth and deeper relationship with the only one who can help. Thanks for linking up, Sarah.
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MAREE DEE – Embracing the Unexpected
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Aww…you had me in tears. What a beautiful and loving testimony.
Thank you so much!
What a sweet post! Thanks for sharing your memories and giving us a small glimpse of your Pawpaw. May you have more birthdays to share with him if the Lord allows.
Thank you, Donna. He is a gem.
Such a beautiful post and memories. It is such a blessing to yet have him around! May you both build many more memories together!
Thank you, Joanne! He is a gem.
What a wonderful testimony, full of love and godly heritage!
I am a lucky girl, Sharon.
This was beautiful. Thank you for writing this post. So many sentiments in it. Also thank you for visiting my blog this morning. You can find a lot of my poetry on my blog under the poetry label/tab. Hope you like them. Happy reading!!
Thank you, Ada. You are very talented.
What a beautiful tribute to your PawPaw. It brought tears to my eyes as I thought of my own Dad who would have been 99 this year. That legacy of love really does contine on through the generations, just as you shared. Blessings for you this week.
Thank you, Bettie. Blessings to you.
This post brought back so many memories of my own grandfather. He loved to spoil me and we had so many great times with him. Thanks for this.
Oh, I’m so glad, Heather.
Ah, Lauren, this is beautiful! And what an amazing blessing that you still have your wonderful grandpa in your life. All 4 of my grandparents were an integral part of my life, and I was blessed to have them all into well into adulthood (between 25 and 40, I lost them all). I have so many cherished memories of them, just as your do your beloved Pawpaw. I feel sad for people who haven’t had the opportunity to be loved by their grandparents.
Blessings,
Patti @ Clothed with Joy
I feel the same way, Patti. Thank you for commenting.
What a beautiful letter to your grandpa! I love learning more about other people’s families and how they grew up. You are part of a beautiful legacy.
I most definitely am. Thank you, Mary.
Beautiful! My grandmother just turned 96 last weekend. This letter reminds me of something I would write to her too.
Shauna
http://www.lipglossandlace.net
You are fortunate indeed if you have that kind of grandmother, Shauna.
This is so beautiful! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for reading it, Karen.
What a precious blessing to honor your grandfather in this way! I hope he has a very special birthday!
He is a precious man. Thank you, Ginger.
Okay, so I had to reach for a tissue about a third of the way through that! But it was the nickels that really got me right at my emotional core. Wow, Lauren, what a special man your grandfather is and what a beautiful way to celebrate his 92nd birthday! Thanks so much for sharing this and linking up with me.
Shelbee
http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com
I know. I love that nickel story! Thanks, Shelbee.
Thanks so much for linking up with me at my #UnlimitedMonthlyLinkParty 16.
Thank you for hosting!
Beautiful dedication! Loved it…visiting from Let’s have coffee!
Thank you, Mary. And thank you so much for visiting! Hope you will come back.
Such a sweet letter, got me in all the feels. I never met any of my grandpas (only the grandmas) but was very close to my paternal grandma and this reminded me of her. I love the note your grandma gave to your PawPaw. Beautiful
Thank you, Wemi. Aren’t we so blessed to have these grandparents?
Aw, so sweet! I hope he had a fabulous birthday.
Thank you, Joanne!