(Pictured: Papaw, Lauren, and myself)
Today’s word is LIVE. For a 24 years Lauren taught me so much and for 98 years Papaw did the same. Yesterday Papaw joined Lauren, Nanny, and Granny (his wives that passed before him). I am comforted today as I think about the life that Papaw lived. The man that he was and the man that he taught me to be by showing me. The one scripture that my Papaw always quoted to me was Matthew 6:25-29
“Therefore, I say to you, don’t worry about your life, what you’ll eat or what you’ll drink, or about your body, what you’ll wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds in the sky. They don’t sow seed or harvest grain or father crops into barns. Yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth much more than they are? Who among you by worrying can add a single moment to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? Notice how the lilies in the field grow. They don’t wear themselves out with work, and they don’t spin cloth. But I say to you that even Solomon in all of his splendor wasn’t dressed like one of these.” (Matthew 6:25-29 CEB)
The life that my Papaw lived was a life of action. He wasn’t a preachy man, he was a loving man and he showed everyone that the way of Jesus was the best way to live.
“His master replied, ‘Well done! You are a good and faithful servant. You’ve been faithful over a little. I’ll put you in charge of much. Come, celebrate with me.’ (Matthew 25:23)
I know for a fact that when Papaw ran into Jesus’ embrace that this verse is what Jesus said to him. I especially like how it ends, COME CELEBRATE WITH ME!
I will celebrate that Papaw lived a life of service to God first, others second, and then himself last. I give thanks that I was blessed to have him as my Papaw.
Father God, thank you for the people that you put in our lives. Thank you for my Papaw that you are now with.
Amen.