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A Letter to My Grandfather on His 92nd Birthday… and Grace and Truth Link Up

September 18, 2020 by Lauren 34 Comments

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.

 

 

Grace and Truth_Rules

1. Share 1 or 2 of your most recent CHRISTIAN LIVING posts. (No DIY, crafts, recipes, or inappropriate articles.) All links are randomly sorted.

2. Comment on 1 or 2 other links. Grace & Truth linkup encourages community.

3. Every host features one entry from the previous week. To be featured, include this button or link back here on your post (mandatory to be featured, but not to participate).

 

Grace Truth_Button

 

Grace and Truth_Meet Hosts

 

We encourage you to follow our hosts on their blogs or social media.

MAREE DEE – Embracing the Unexpected
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

HEATHER HART & VALERIE RIESE – Candidly Christian
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

LAUREN SPARKS
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

LISA BURGESS – Lisa notes
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Now Let’s Link Up!

 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

 

 

Sharing is caring! If you liked this post, do me the huge honor of using the buttons below to share it to your favorite social media accounts. And if you want to get these essays emailed to you once a week, subscribe!  Lastly, my posts may contain affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy anything from one of these links, I will receive a few pennies to help offset the cost of this website at no additional charge to you. Thank you in advance for your help.

 

To find some great places where I might be sharing this post, click here.

 

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Filed Under: Christian, family, Grace & Truth Link Up Tagged With: birthday, grandfather, legacy, PawPaw

Comments

  1. A spirit of simplicity says

    September 18, 2020 at 4:49 am

    Aww…you had me in tears. What a beautiful and loving testimony.

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      September 18, 2020 at 8:04 am

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
  2. Donna Reidland says

    September 18, 2020 at 7:23 am

    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.

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      September 18, 2020 at 8:04 am

      Thank you, Donna. He is a gem.

      Reply
  3. Joanne Viola says

    September 18, 2020 at 7:49 am

    Such a beautiful post and memories. It is such a blessing to yet have him around! May you both build many more memories together!

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      September 18, 2020 at 8:04 am

      Thank you, Joanne! He is a gem.

      Reply
  4. Sharon Hazel says

    September 18, 2020 at 10:28 am

    What a wonderful testimony, full of love and godly heritage!

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      September 18, 2020 at 12:20 pm

      I am a lucky girl, Sharon.

      Reply
  5. Ada says

    September 18, 2020 at 10:39 am

    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!!

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      September 18, 2020 at 12:21 pm

      Thank you, Ada. You are very talented.

      Reply
  6. BettieG says

    September 18, 2020 at 10:43 am

    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.

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      September 18, 2020 at 12:21 pm

      Thank you, Bettie. Blessings to you.

      Reply
  7. Heather Hart says

    September 18, 2020 at 4:15 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      September 21, 2020 at 1:21 pm

      Oh, I’m so glad, Heather.

      Reply
  8. Patti Gardner says

    September 19, 2020 at 4:20 pm

    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

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      September 21, 2020 at 1:20 pm

      I feel the same way, Patti. Thank you for commenting.

      Reply
  9. Mary Geisen says

    September 20, 2020 at 7:41 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      September 21, 2020 at 1:20 pm

      I most definitely am. Thank you, Mary.

      Reply
  10. Shauna says

    September 21, 2020 at 1:51 pm

    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

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      September 21, 2020 at 3:25 pm

      You are fortunate indeed if you have that kind of grandmother, Shauna.

      Reply
  11. Karen Del Tatto says

    September 21, 2020 at 3:31 pm

    This is so beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      September 21, 2020 at 3:32 pm

      Thanks for reading it, Karen.

      Reply
  12. Ginger Harrington says

    September 22, 2020 at 10:29 am

    What a precious blessing to honor your grandfather in this way! I hope he has a very special birthday!

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      September 23, 2020 at 10:41 am

      He is a precious man. Thank you, Ginger.

      Reply
  13. Shelbee on the Edge says

    September 23, 2020 at 11:53 am

    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

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      September 24, 2020 at 11:09 am

      I know. I love that nickel story! Thanks, Shelbee.

      Reply
  14. Dee | Grammy's Grid says

    September 24, 2020 at 12:12 pm

    Thanks so much for linking up with me at my #UnlimitedMonthlyLinkParty 16.

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      September 24, 2020 at 2:43 pm

      Thank you for hosting!

      Reply
  15. Mary Rooney Armand says

    September 24, 2020 at 1:19 pm

    Beautiful dedication! Loved it…visiting from Let’s have coffee!

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      September 24, 2020 at 2:42 pm

      Thank you, Mary. And thank you so much for visiting! Hope you will come back.

      Reply
  16. Wemi Omotosho says

    September 24, 2020 at 2:32 pm

    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

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      September 24, 2020 at 2:42 pm

      Thank you, Wemi. Aren’t we so blessed to have these grandparents?

      Reply
  17. Joanne says

    September 25, 2020 at 4:48 am

    Aw, so sweet! I hope he had a fabulous birthday.

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      September 25, 2020 at 9:25 am

      Thank you, Joanne!

      Reply

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About Me

I love Jesus, my husband and caffeine. The order of these can change depending on how tired I am. When my two daughters, stepson, and 4 grandchildren get to be too much, I practice yoga. God graciously allows me to share our adventures, victories and flub-ups from my laptop. May He be glorified here.
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