My Granddad was a beautiful human. The excerpts below are from a letter to family and friends that he knew would be his last. I can't say any of this better than he did. May the blessing of his existence extend to all who read.
"I am so grateful for Lou. She was pierced with goodness all the way through. Thanks, God, for all those years. Your mother was truly extraordinary in so many ways. I often have the wish to convey to her, even now, what she meant to me in all the years we had together. She somehow, it seems to me, represented all that is good in the human spirit. Lou and I have been so blessed with you kids. Without dwelling too much, each of you are better in so many ways than we would have dreamed; accomplishments, character, integrity, and the good things built into personality are so far ahead of what we would have expected for our kids, their mates, and our grandkids. We have been equally blessed with the mates you have chosen...so many accomplishments by each but being a good person is so evident in all. And absolutely great grandchildren...haven't given up on one. There is so much talent in all our grandkids I hope they don't come to expect too much of themselves, and to remember that failure is not lack of success because it is a learning experience.
Couple of thoughts: First, how faith has so much to do with all of our lives and that of our kids and grandkids. I would recommend a personal daily reminder strongly. Religion is very simple, despite mankind's complications: (Organized religion is where complications come in.) Either there is a God or there is not. A designed universe and both secular and religious history records pretty firmly a God and a Jesus.
Think God daily. Not just thank...think. He is. Thank Him too, but think Him. If you have a shaky or broken relationship mend it today; tomorrow may never come. Strengthen your marriage every day in some small or large way...EVERY day. Happiness comes most quickly and lasts longer for givers. Cars, dollars, furniture, and houses can bum, rust, and become of little real value. Relationships can bum also; Install fire fighting gear by planning for conflict and how to deal with it. Put out relationship fires while they are still just starting.
It's true...you should not sweat the small stuff. There are more good people than bad by far. Remember the good, and forgive the bad! Take lots of pictures. Never give up. If tomorrow is too terrible to contemplate, don't! Think today. Don't work about failing or being wrong. If I counted all the times I was right and all the times wrong, I might not like the numbers. Fear of failure is no reason for not trying. Truly don't sweat the small stuff.
Wipe off any tears...life has given us many things to enjoy: fun to goofup some things...remember the flipper dinger promotion...and BODAP; failures all. It's not failing or losing or winning that counts...it's the aftermath of what you do with life; handling failures or handling success, which may be the more difficult of the two. Life is like a golf course: some fairways wide and friendly, some narrow and trapped, but all navigable with the green the goal ahead like the I Peter 1:9 passage: "You are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your soul."
I'll see you in another place, another time, another dimension...if things run sour healthwise to any of you just remember I'll ask the Lord to reserve a spot for you and we'll talk some more then. Loving deeply makes you deeply vulnerable. It's worth it. God bless you all.
How blessed I am wonderful marriage, great offspring and grandchildren (and now great GC...) a terrific town and more good friends by far than I have ever deserved. And a blessed Lord a constant companion...'a refuge in distress' and an inspiration when befuddled."
-Bob McKune
"I am so grateful for Lou. She was pierced with goodness all the way through. Thanks, God, for all those years. Your mother was truly extraordinary in so many ways. I often have the wish to convey to her, even now, what she meant to me in all the years we had together. She somehow, it seems to me, represented all that is good in the human spirit. Lou and I have been so blessed with you kids. Without dwelling too much, each of you are better in so many ways than we would have dreamed; accomplishments, character, integrity, and the good things built into personality are so far ahead of what we would have expected for our kids, their mates, and our grandkids. We have been equally blessed with the mates you have chosen...so many accomplishments by each but being a good person is so evident in all. And absolutely great grandchildren...haven't given up on one. There is so much talent in all our grandkids I hope they don't come to expect too much of themselves, and to remember that failure is not lack of success because it is a learning experience.
Couple of thoughts: First, how faith has so much to do with all of our lives and that of our kids and grandkids. I would recommend a personal daily reminder strongly. Religion is very simple, despite mankind's complications: (Organized religion is where complications come in.) Either there is a God or there is not. A designed universe and both secular and religious history records pretty firmly a God and a Jesus.
Think God daily. Not just thank...think. He is. Thank Him too, but think Him. If you have a shaky or broken relationship mend it today; tomorrow may never come. Strengthen your marriage every day in some small or large way...EVERY day. Happiness comes most quickly and lasts longer for givers. Cars, dollars, furniture, and houses can bum, rust, and become of little real value. Relationships can bum also; Install fire fighting gear by planning for conflict and how to deal with it. Put out relationship fires while they are still just starting.
It's true...you should not sweat the small stuff. There are more good people than bad by far. Remember the good, and forgive the bad! Take lots of pictures. Never give up. If tomorrow is too terrible to contemplate, don't! Think today. Don't work about failing or being wrong. If I counted all the times I was right and all the times wrong, I might not like the numbers. Fear of failure is no reason for not trying. Truly don't sweat the small stuff.
Wipe off any tears...life has given us many things to enjoy: fun to goofup some things...remember the flipper dinger promotion...and BODAP; failures all. It's not failing or losing or winning that counts...it's the aftermath of what you do with life; handling failures or handling success, which may be the more difficult of the two. Life is like a golf course: some fairways wide and friendly, some narrow and trapped, but all navigable with the green the goal ahead like the I Peter 1:9 passage: "You are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your soul."
I'll see you in another place, another time, another dimension...if things run sour healthwise to any of you just remember I'll ask the Lord to reserve a spot for you and we'll talk some more then. Loving deeply makes you deeply vulnerable. It's worth it. God bless you all.
How blessed I am wonderful marriage, great offspring and grandchildren (and now great GC...) a terrific town and more good friends by far than I have ever deserved. And a blessed Lord a constant companion...'a refuge in distress' and an inspiration when befuddled."
-Bob McKune
