Skip to main content

Grandfather's funeral

Yesterday was my grandfather's funeral. I cried, but I felt less
sadness and more love and admiration than anything. He was a special
man, and he did some prett amazing things for his church, family,
community and friends. Here are a few stories to explain.

Story 1.

When I arrived at Tulsa for residency, one of the OU internal medicine
attendings asked me if L.N. Was my grandfather. After I said "yes"...
He had focus and intensity in his eyes as he shared with me what a
great man my grandfather is and how important he was to his family.
My grandfather had created a job for this guy's dad during some tough
times so that he could provide for his family... Then, when he saw
great potential in this gentleman, he offered to pay tuition at SNU
for undergrad and later a master's program. This gentleman's two sons
grew up to do some pretty great things with opportunities they may not
have had if my grandfather had not heeded the call of the holy spirit
to be generous.

Story 2.

My grandfather saw hard times in his life. He was dirt poor as a
child. He worked his way through college while running track for OU,
he also worked the day of his wedding so he coul have money to pay the
preacher. He fought in World War II. He worked 2-3 jobs and ran an
apartment building while helping to raise twin boys during medical
school. He faced health issues with his beloved wife near the end of
her life. And through it all, in his final years, he told his pastor,
"it's the tough times that make life worth living." These words are
profound in today's society of "comfort at all cost". I think that
shows what great faith he had in his loving heavenly father, as well
as highlighting his belief that the true reward lies in the eternity
beyond.

Dngilb

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Marriage: Cultural Misconception Exposed.

Recently I had a single person ask me if marriage was difficult. I'm not sure I can make a statement that rings true in all and for all marriages.   My experience of marriage has been intertwined with my wife's difficult health problems. Thus my perspective has been colored. Facing life in the midst of these health problems has been the most difficult experience of my life. What I can say about marriage is that I was lied to almost my entire life. God did not invent marriage to "make us happy"... The lie propagated by nearly every facet of American society as a whole. A lie left largely un-refuted by church, or so it seemed to me. "Oh, he makes me so happy!" and then when he doesn't make you happy any longer... "I just don't love him anymore". Divorce then follows. The now single person starts looking for another source of happiness. The cycle repeats, as the broken and imperfect person seeks the wrong remedy. I do not mean to say that you

Forgetting the Obvious

Well, its been a while since I've written... busy busy busy... but tonight's call has given me moments of free time to relax, including a trip to starbuck's across the street, and with such beautiful weather, I'm so lucky. Now I sit, under flickering flourescents, listening to the shoegaze drone of "Bethany Curve" every bit as relaxing as a nice dose of zolpidem. what shall I muse on tonight? I've been thinking alot on mid-life crises. Who has them?  I think I'm the sort that would have one. Even at 27, I still find myself wondering, "Is this what I want my life to be like?" I don't envision a life full of work, with only moments of fellowship. This will be temporary. I am applying for ophthalmology again, though with less enthusiasm. In part, because no matter how much I struggle for something, the only way it will happen is if God's will includes it. Isn't that right? I struggled hard for ophtho once, and I didn't get i