He is Good

As some of you may know, my grandfather passed away on December 27 at the age of 91. He was an amazing man and I can't even describe how much he meant to our family. He was one of the funniest men I knew and one of the greatest encouragers. A moment I will always treasure was this past summer when I was selling my photos from Vietnam. He was looking through them and commenting on everyone. He couldn't decide on one he wanted because he liked so many of them. It was cute to see how proud he was of my work and it meant a lot that he took the time to express that to me.

This picture was taken at his joint birthday party with his best friend

Even though we were prepared for his passing, it did not help cushion the blow when my sister told me. I had a rough first day but the next day I was back to work, trying to distract my thoughts. I was doing well until the next Saturday when they had his memorial service. It was difficult not being there but I knew my family was supporting me over here.

To give background that will help you understand the rest of my story, my parents told me that the night before he passed they read him Romans 8:18 that says, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." The next day, he passed away at 8:18 AM. It was comforting to know that G0d was showing us that our grandfather is now with Him!

The funeral was held on Saturday back in the states but due to the time difference it was Sunday morning, my time. Every Sunday when we take offering, someone gets up and tells a story or reads scripture that has spoken to them that week and then we pass around the offering. This Sunday, a woman got up and began reading out of Romans 8. I lost it a bit from there and decided to get pr@yer in the back as we sang. The woman who read the verse was back there and so I told her the story about the verse and the time he passed. After pr@yer I felt a lot better and I was able to focus on the teaching.

I don't say all of this to bring you down but actually build you up. If the verse part did not convince you that G0d's hand was in this the whole time, then I hope the next part does. Every day after the service, a group goes out to lunch. On occasion, the woman from the reading, her husband and their five children go out to eat with us. Let me just tell you, their children are the biggest sweethearts in the world and always show love in little ways but this particular Sunday, they showed me some extra love. One of the girls made up a special handshake with me while another sat on my lap after we had eaten. The rest of the girls swarmed around our table and I definitely felt G0d's love at that moment. I figured their mom had told them about my grandpa's death and they were showing me they cared.

However, this past Sunday (one week after), one of the girls came up and said that she had heard about my grandpa and that she was sorry. I thought it was a little odd that she would have said it a week later if she had heard about it last Sunday so after the service I called her over and asked her when her parents had told her. She said they were told this past Friday....what!? I almost started crying at G0d's faithfulness. He knew that day I needed extra support and love and He sent it my way through these adorable girls.

Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the L0RD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones. Isaiah 49:13

This picture was taken this past summer