Final Goodbye

From an email sent to my Sunday School class about Grandpa Stauffer:

“Grandpa Stauffer began heavenly walking with Jesus this morning at 6am. He shed this world and stepped into the second chapter of his life without pain or distress, but peacefully in his sleep. We’re all taking comfort in the hope that he is now standing on two legs [he previously had one amputated] and meeting his Savior face to face. We’re also hopeful that he’ll get to dance with his earthly bride again.

While the transition hurts for those of us left behind, the hope in Christ is more than enough to grant a supernatural peace about the whole situation. Barb and Rodger both woke up this morning around 5am feeling that something was different. Rodger later shared that he had a dream that he and Barb were standing in the house with Grandpa and everyone was at peace.

Please, if you do not mind, pray that the Hope we have in Christ is able to bring family members into a stronger desire for Jesus as memorial service plans, phone calls, and travels to Michigan naturally bring up conversations about eternity. Grandpa Stauffer’s wishes to be cremated and buried next to his beautiful bride will be carried out at the small grave-side service in early October.

Thank you again for your love and prayers.

And again, it cannot be stressed enough, that the hope of Christ makes this whole situation saturate our faith in a new level of New Jerusalem focus.

One day every knee shall bow… just some get the privilege to kneel before the rest of us.”

– We know you are resting in peace, Grandpa Stauffer. And we’re also so thankful that you are resting in true Joy. You are so loved and already are missed.

– To God be the glory. 

Her Voice

The phone rang at another inopportune moment: the baby crying and ready for a fresh diaper, two little girls needing encouragement at the table to choose eating over playing. I heard the familiar family answer machine message inviting the general public into a sample of Rachael’s cuteness before leaving the necessary essentials for correspondence. Then came the almost unrecognizable voice, it sounded important but I knew I wouldn’t be able to hear over the baby’s needs. Freshly diapered and reswaddled, my tag-along and I returned to the answer machine, figuring I had a call to direct to Pastor through my husband. I couldn’t place what small portions of the voice I was able to distinguish before, my mind filing through names and faces. Replay and a now quiet room revealed her voice. A voice of deep hurt mixed with desperation. A voice needing a friend.

I wasn’t used to hearing her this way. She always holds herself so strong. Her years of experience carry such confidence and assurance. When someone like that takes on such a broken tone, it doesn’t matter that you just conversed the other day. All of a sudden they become masked until something in their speech is revealed. “Son, I have been trying to get a hold of you and I just can’t,” her semi-whisper broke through. “I need to talk to pastor and I don’t have his number,” her voice unmasked her tears. I was frozen. The rest became a routine. My husband, the assistant pastor was needed, but far more than that, my husband, a son… a friend, was needed.

He wasn’t responding how we thought he would. We all had high hopes. The statistics felt manageable. The promise of a distance from pain coming. The promise of mobility, healing and hope being on the horizon. The family came in as support, encouraging and praying. They got to visit and send their well-wishes in person, face to face – a rarity for such distant travelers, though close in their hearts. Then it took an unexpected turn. Health being a funny friend… or foe.

I’m going to miss him. His quirky wit. His stubborn tone. I’m going to miss the way his face lit up while watching his great grandkids. His funny remarks and commentary leaving some confused as to his sincerity. Hehe. Great Grandpa was just great grandpa – grouchy, stubborn and lovable all wrapped up in one. And he will be missed. He is missed as we say goodbye.

It just hit me all the more,

when it came through her voice.

– praying.

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