A Tribute to My Grandpa Lee

It's been nearly a month now since my Grandpa Lee died.  I was reminded again of the tears of joy and sorrow at his funeral, of the outpouring of love and care by extended family and friends, and of the life that he lived.

Here are some brief words I shared at his funeral service:

What I remember most about Grandpa Lee was his love for people.  He would always greet you with a smile.  He’d find out your name.  He’d find out your life story.  Sometimes it seemed like he knew everyone around here!  He had a lot of years to get to know all of you.  But still, he had a knack for connecting with people.

I want my kids to learn to care for people like Grandpa did.  When we were going places as I was younger, I remember my dad, Ray, saying, “You need to mingle.  Ask people questions.  Get to know them.”  I’m sure that’s something he learned from Grandpa.

Another way that Grandpa cared for people was by how he and Grandma invested themselves in the Gideons [Bible distribution] ministry.  He wanted to make sure people could get Bibles – in schools, in hotels, or wherever they were needed. 

I believe Grandpa Lee’s love for people was best shown in his faithfulness to church.  He led his family to go to church regularly.  He taught his kids to value church.  They have passed those lessons on to us, to be faithful to church.

Grandpa Lee was a great example to all of us. But I’m sure he’d want you to remember that it’s not enough to be a good person by human standards.  Jesus said you have to be as perfect as God in heaven is perfect.

But none of us are perfect.  We all fall short of God’s glory. And our falling short, our sin, is the reason we all face death.

Jesus was both God and man.  He walked this earth and never fell short, never sinned. So God accepted his perfect life. Jesus also died to pay for sin.  Not his sin, because he didn’t have any.  Jesus died to pay for our sin. And God accepted that death.  Our efforts can never pay for the debt of our sin.  Our good works can never take away our guilt. But Jesus can.  So we need to trust in him.

Grandpa Lee’s good example is one we all should follow. But let’s follow him as he followed God – by trusting in Jesus.  Only in Jesus can we find true hope.  Only in Jesus can we find help to live a truly good life, with no regrets.  A life that honors God, so that when that life is over, we are remembered with love.  Only in Jesus can we together have hope of seeing each other again in heaven someday.  Even though death tears us apart now.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except through Me.”  He said, “He who believes in the Son has eternal life, but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

I believe Grandpa Lee trusted in Jesus for that eternal life.  I plead with you to do the same. Be sure you are trusting in Jesus – to gain eternal life and to escape God’s wrath.  Jesus is the only way.

Trust Jesus today.  You are not guaranteed tomorrow.

If you are trusting him, cling to that hope for strength in this trial.  Jesus will never forsake his people.  Jesus will raise us up with him.  We eagerly wait for that day of resurrection.

Until that day, Grandpa, we will miss you.  Thank you for the lessons you taught us.